91��ý

Release from the penitentiary system is often not the end of a sentence but the beginning of a profound "crisis period" for the individual. As international scholars Robert Pelzer and Mika Moeller have noted, former convicts immediately encounter a complex set of social, cultural, and psychological barriers. Social stigmatization, unemployment, and the inability to adapt to a peaceful social environment are key factors that can drive individuals back into the ranks of extremist groups. For Kazakhstan, addressing this issue is essential for ensuring national security and social stability.

The scientific project, titled "Post-Penitentiary Reintegration of Individuals Influenced by Religious Extremism Ideology into Kazakhstan Society," is being carried out from January 3, 2025, to December 31, 2027. The research is funded by a state grant under the national priority "Intellectual Potential of the Country". The total budget for the three-year period is 27,275,695 tenge. It is a fundamental study in the humanities, integrating religious studies, sociology, psychology, and political science.

As of February 2024, more than 35,000 individuals are serving sentences in Kazakhstan's penitentiary institutions. The number of convictions for extremism and terrorism remains steady: 122 people were sent to court in 2023, 124 in 2022, and 140 in 2019. While de-radicalization efforts are conducted within prisons, the subsequent process of reintegration into society after release has lacked deep, evidence-based scientific analysis within the country until now. The absence of a proven methodology makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness of regional rehabilitation centers and leads to the potential inefficient use of state budget funds.

The primary goal of the project is to study the socio-psychological adaptation of former convicts and their loyalty to secular principles, national values, and the political and legal system of Kazakhstan, ultimately providing the state with effective strategies to solve these challenges.

Six key objectives have been defined to achieve this goal:

1. Theoretic Grounding: Systematizing domestic and international scientific approaches to reintegration.
2. International Benchmarking: Analyzing rehabilitation management practices in Germany, Europe, and Russia (including insights from scholars such as Jordy Krasenberg and Feline Deniz).
3. Empirical Research: Collecting data across all regions of Kazakhstan through direct interviews with former convicts, their families, and subject-matter experts.
4. Institutional Analysis: Assessing the performance and documents of existing regional rehabilitation centers.
5. Proposing Effective Pathways: Developing practical recommendations and identifying long-term prospects for the state.
6. Disseminating Results: Publishing monographs, textbooks, and methodological guides for practical use by state bodies and educational institutions.

The project's key innovation lies in its shift from a functional-structural approach (common in foreign studies) to a causal analysis of reintegration. While international research often focuses on the management and legal aspects of the process, this Kazakhstani study aims to analyze the actual results—how an individual's consciousness and values change over time. The methodological toolkit includes:

• Data processing using SPSS software.
• Utilizing SWOT analysis, comparative, and causal methods.
• Field research involving not only former convicts but also their family members.

The project findings will help improve the effectiveness of specialized institutions, such as the Rehabilitation and Counseling Center in Almaty. The methodological guides produced will serve as a vital resource for state bodies, university lecturers, and rehabilitation practitioners. In the long term, this project aims to strengthen interfaith harmony, reduce the risk of extremist recidivism, and enhance overall social safety in Kazakhstan.