The ranking system is "supposed to alert US government officials to individuals at risk of turning to radical violence, and to families or communities at risk of incubating extremist ideologies." 
Mfumo huo unatarajiwa "kuwaweka maafisa wa serikali ya Marekani katika hali ya tahadhari kwa watu wenye hatari ya kugeuka kuwa watu wa ghasia, na familia au jamii zilizo kwenye uwezekano wa kukumbatia itikadi za kikaidi."