Security Threat Groups (STGs): Measuring Disengagement
or Disaffiliation?

What we are doing

Security information from CSC's Offender Management System (OMS) was examined to identify STG affiliated offenders with an inactive status between FY2013-2014 and FY2018-2019 or offenders with a terminated STG affiliation between December 2009 and January 2020. Case management documentation was also explored.

What we have found so far

Recent research comparing active versus inactive STG affiliated offenders shows unique profiles for both men and women. Inactive men were more likely to have committed violent offences and be serving longer sentences while inactive women were serving shorter sentences and had committed drug related offences.^{Footnote 6} ,^{Footnote 7}  However, the reason(s) why an offender may be considered inactive in their STG is not routinely documented in OMS case management information nor is this information captured in OMS's STG affiliation screen. Therefore, differentiation between offenders who have made the decision to disengage from the STG versus offenders who no longer participate in the STG due to operational decisions aimed at reducing the presence of STGs within correctional institutions.

Examination of the "terminated" status provided explanations for 44% of these offenders,^{Footnote 8}  with the majority of reasons provided due to push factors (e.g. disbanding of the STG, offender being forced out, etc.) or a lack of information to validate the affiliation. This STG designation was not uniformly reported in OMS case management documentation,^{Footnote 9}  and when reported, seems limited to a subset of push factors that may explain disaffiliation. ^{Footnote 3} ,^{Footnote 10} 

What it means

Current administrative methods for tracking disengagement and disaffiliation do not allow for a nuanced understanding of the variety of factors that may precipitate these processes for STG affiliated federal offenders. Enhancing the reporting requirements in OMS related to reasons for an inactive and terminated status would improve future research capacity in these areas; the disengagement and disaffiliation literature should inform any changes to ensure a uniform data capture process. Qualitative research (e.g. interviews) would enhance CSC's understanding of offenders' decision-making related to disengagement and disaffiliation; the interplay of factors related to affiliation, cultural identity, and ethnocultural identity on this process; and to map out the timeline or process of discontinuing STG involvement.

For more information   

For questions and/or more information, please email the Research Branch. You can also visit the Research Publications section for a full list of reports and one-page summaries.

Prepared by: Shanna Farrell MacDonald, Sarah Cram, and Angela Smeth