Public Safety and Violence Prevention Research, Evaluation, and Implementation

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is the science advisor to the Secretary and serves as the research and development arm for the Department. S&T’s mission is to enable effective, efficient, and secure operations across all homeland security missions. S&T management of multi-disciplinary social science, engineering, and technology R&D efforts are done to ensure that the advancements in science and technology are harnessed for solutions to address fundamental policy and operational challenges. Preventing acts of terrorism and targeted violence requires a whole of society approach and is part of Goal 1 of the DHS Strategic Plan. S&T supports this mission by conducting evidence-based research and evaluation to understand an evolving threat landscape. To support this mission, S&T conducts social, behavioral, and economic science research to (a) support our understanding of individual and organizational motives for engaging in, and disengaging from, violent extremism; (b) develop and assist locally tailored interventions with local partners; and (c) evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of terrorism prevention activities and policies. Social, behavioral, and economic science research is critical for DHS in developing a scientific understanding of how individuals, small groups, and organizations affect prevention, deterrence, threats, targeted violence, interventions, response, resilience, security, and recovery activities. Knowledge of how human beings behave in—and interact with—the various socio-economic contexts they inhabit is an essential component of promoting multi-disciplinary research. These challenging tasks require access to a broad set of expertise drawn from the fields of psychology, economics, criminology, political science, sociology, biostatistics, computer science, and other disciplines. Knowledge and findings from this research will be translated into easily digestible products for federal, state, local, and community-based organizations to enable education and awareness to reinforce a whole-of-society prevention approach. These efforts will equip and empower local terrorism and prevention stakeholders, such as family members, bystanders, teachers, community leaders, community-based organizations and law enforcement, with the knowledge they need to recognize concerning behavior and to take the necessary steps to minimize a threat as it evolves.