Criminal justice and inequality: what can be done to reduce inequality?

Tools

Mahoney, I. ORCID: 0000-0003-0313-3418 and Chowdhury, R. ORCID: 0000-0001-5974-7190, 2021. Criminal justice and inequality: what can be done to reduce inequality? Nottingham: Nottingham Trent University.

Preview

Text
1428579_Mahoney.pdf - Published version
Download (529kB) | Preview

Presentation
1428579b_Mahoney.pptx - Presentation
Download (816kB)

Abstract

There are significant differences in outcomes among different ethnic groups who have come into contact with the CJS. Men from minority ethnic backgrounds tend to come into contact with the CJS at a younger age, form a larger proportion of those serving custodial sentences and, in the case of Black men, spend more of their original sentence in prison compared with men from other ethnic groups. The Lammy Review (2017) recommended that criminal justice organisations should be able to explain variations in outcomes and experiences across different ethnicities, or to reform CJS practices to achieve more equitable outcomes. At present, it is not possible to fully explain the variations in experiences in minority groups, particularly when they are released from prison.

This report provides an overview of the key issues pertaining to the experience of people from minority communities that need to be considered when supporting them as part of the process of leaving prison and reintegrating back into communities. Recommendations are included at each stage based on evidence emerging from the literature, and these are summarised again at the end of the report. Due to the previously noted lack of evidence within the UK context, we also draw on evidence from overseas, particularly the US. We acknowledge that there are different challenges and barriers in these contexts, but where areas of good practice are identified elsewhere, these should be considered to explore what lessons can be learned and applied to assist us in better supporting the desistance journeys of people within the UK.

Item Type:

Research report for external body

Description:

Commissioning body: NTU - Developing Academic Policy Exchange (DAPE)

Creators:

Mahoney, I. and Chowdhury, R.

Publisher:

Nottingham Trent University

Place of Publication:

Nottingham

Date:

19 March 2021