The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Public Safety and Violence Prevention (PSVP) project supports the DHS targeted violence and terrorism prevention mission by conducting evidence-based research to better understand an evolving threat landscape.
PSVP uses social science research as it aims to build tools and techniques that enhance public safety while preventing act of violence. PSVP focuses on terrorism prevention, misinformation, disinformation, malinformation (MDM) information, human trafficking, and community resilience. The goal of PSVP is to develop data and evidence to better inform policy and practice in these areas. These efforts aim to increase the effectiveness of terrorism prevention response and recovery initiatives implemented by federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and non-governmental stakeholders.
PSVP research will enable policy makers, operational end-users; such as first responders and local communities, to make informed decisions to divert vulnerable individuals, prevent potential offenders, mitigate vulnerabilities, and enhance community resilience.
Social Science Research
S&T conducts social science research to (a) support our understanding of individual motives for engaging in, and disengaging from, violent extremism; (b) develop and assist locally-tailored interventions with local partners; and (c) evaluate the effectiveness of terrorism prevention activities and policies.
Social science and behavioral research aids DHS in developing a scientific understanding of how individuals, small groups, and organizations affect threats, prevention, deterrence, 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 by promoting cross-cutting research. S&T performs innovative research in support of the DHS Countering Terrorism and Targeted Violence Strategic Framework and the National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism.
Centers of Excellence
The DHS National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education (NCITE) Center of Excellence, led by the University of Nebraska at Omaha, focuses on developing solutions to terrorism prevention and counterterrorism research to safeguard the nation’s people, infrastructure, and economy, including solutions that can help prevent terror attacks by countering the radicalization of people and their mobilization to violence.
NEW Featured Content
- Comparative Analysis of CT/CVE Policies: USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Sweden, and North Macedonia
- Targeted Violence: A Review of the Literature on Radicalization and Mobilization [PDF, 15pgs., 748KB]
- COVID-19 Vaccine Early Skepticism, Misinformation and Informational Needs among Essential Workers in the USA
- Understanding COVID-19 Vaccine Early Skepticism and Needs for Information Among Essential Workers in the USA
- FY 2016 Violence Prevention Grant Evaluations, October 2021
- The Use of a Scenario-Based Nominal Group Technique to Assess P/CVE Programs: Development and Pilot Testing of a Toolkit
- COVID-19 Vaccine Concerns about Safety, Effectiveness and Policies in the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Italy among Unvaccinated Individuals [PDF, 16pgs., 274KB]
- Cognitive and behavioral radicalization: A systematic review of the putative risk and protective factors
- Multiagency programmes with police as a partner for reducing radicalization to violence
Contact Us: PSVP@hq.dhs.gov