
Noah Turner, like many people, grew up during a news cycle that featured what seemed like daily reports on terrorism and violent extremism around the world. The more he heard and saw, the more he wanted to better understand the attacks and to help leaders learn how to stop them from happening.
“The consequences of extremist crime and violence—as well as the governmental responses to these attacks—have a lasting impact on the public,” he explains. “I believe it is important to understand why some people choose to engage in extremist crime and violence so we can be better informed on how to effectively prevent these acts.”
As a researcher, Turner uses criminological theory to explain and understand violent acts of extremism as well as nonviolent extremist crime including cyberterrorism, financial crime, and property crime.
“The ultimate purpose of my research is to help policymakers and practitioners safeguard the public,” he says. “I hope my research can inform effective policy that prevents acts of extremist crime and violence nationwide, while also ensuring the civil rights and liberties of the general public are upheld.”