The U.S. government has prosecuted 942 people for terrorism since the 9/11 attacks. Most of them never even got close to committing an act ofviolence.
Data last updated on November 05, 2020
The U.S. government segregates terrorism cases into two categories — domestic and international. This database contains cases classified as international terrorism, though many of the people charged never left the United States or communicated with anyone outside the country.
Since the 9/11 attacks, most of the 942 terrorism defendants prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice have been charged with material support for terrorism, criminal conspiracy, immigration violations, or making false statements — vague, nonviolent offenses that give prosecutors wide latitude for scoring quick convictions or plea bargains. 610 defendants have pleaded guilty to charges, while the courts found 197 guilty at trial. Just 3 have been acquitted and 4 have seen their charges dropped or dismissed, giving the Justice Department a near-perfect record of conviction in terrorism cases.
Today, 362 people charged with terrorism-related offenses are in custody in the United States, including 70 defendants who are awaiting trial and remain innocent until proven guilty.
Very few terrorism defendants had the means or opportunity to commit an act of violence. The majority had no direct connection to terrorist organizations. Many were caught up in FBI stings, in which an informant or undercover agent posed as a member of a terrorist organization. The U.S. government nevertheless defines such cases as international terrorism.
526 terrorism defendants have been released from custody, often with no provision for supervision or ongoing surveillance, suggesting that the government does not regard them as imminent threats to the homeland.
A large proportion of the defendants who did have direct connections to terrorist groups were recruited as informants or cooperating witnesses and served little or no time in prison. At present, there have been 34 such cooperators. By contrast, many of the 345 defendants caught up in FBI stings have received decades in prison because they had no information or testimony to trade. They simply didn’t know any terrorists.
All Cases
All Cases
Stings
Cooperators
In custody
Released
Awaiting Trial
942 total
Charges
Since 9/11, 52 percent of terrorism defendants prosecuted by the Justice Department have been charged with material support.
Most common charges in all cases
491
Material support
205
Criminal conspiracy
180
Immigration violations
154
Making false statements
148
Firearms violations
84
Financial violations
80
Use, threats, or attempts to use weapons of mass destruction
79
Money laundering
75
Conspiracy to murder, kidnap, or maim overseas
56
Murder, attempted murder, or related offenses
51
Importation, manufacture, distribution, or storage of explosive material
50
Drug violations
41
Funding terrorists
36
Racketeering
36
Obstruction of justice
30
Sale or receipt of stolen or counterfeit goods
21
Seditious conspiracy
16
Tax violations
16
Hostage taking
13
Trafficking in contraband cigarettes
13
Receiving terrorist training
12
Attempting to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries
12
Air safety violations
10
Smuggling
9
Making threats
Terrorist Affiliation
Starting in 2014, there was a dramatic rise in ISIS-related terrorism prosecutions.
Purported affiliation in all cases
Undercover Investigations
37 percent of terrorism defendants were caught up in FBI stings.
Use of stings
Place of Prosecution
26 percent of defendants charged with terrorism-related offenses have been prosecuted in New York.
All prosecutions by state
Individual Profiles
Explore the complete database of terrorism prosecutions and review details about specific cases.