Ethnicity And Crime Flashcards
Ethnic convicts in prison system
26% of the prison population, 22,683 people, are from a minority ethnic group, while only 14% of UK population is
Black men are 26% more likely than white men to be remanded in custody. They are also nearly 60% more likely to plead not guilty
BẢME defendants were more over-represented in prosecutions for robbery (39%), drug offences
(39%), and possession of weapons (31%)
The overall adult reoffending rate in 2018/19 was 30% for White offenders, 31% for Black offenders, and 24% for Asian offenders
Black males nine times more likely to be stopped and searched
Black peoples make up 3% of prison population and 12% of adult prison population
Ethnic CJS professionals statistics
In 2019, 6% of judges and 12% of magistrates identified as belonging to a BAME group
Estimates suggest that 21% of lawyers working in law firms in 2019 were BAME: 15% were Asian 3% Black, 2% mixed ethnicity, and 1% ‘other
What theorists are also interlinked with ethnicity
Merton
Cohen
Murray, modoood
Labelling theory
Cicourel
Becker
Lea and young
Cases for evidence
Stephen Lawrence
Biba Harris and Nichole smallman (more recent proving that even after Stephen Lawrence police are still racist)
Difference between direct and indirect racism
Direct: easily detectable, upfront e.g. more stop and searches with black men and 5x more likely to get a custodial sentence
Indirect: not as detectable, not upfront and can be disputed e.g. ethnic minority groups more likely denied bail based on social characteristics and are assumed to abscond
Reiner
This study used material produced by the Macpherson Report of 1999.
Reiner picked up on the idea from the report of ‘institutional racism’ within the police
He identified what he called a ‘canteen culture’ were new police were expected to hold and express certain attitudes which were sexist and racist
Those who didn’t conform were treated as outcasts
These attitudes spilled over into police work and made them target black youths more frequently
Myth of black criminality
Gilroy
Suggested black crime was a political act fighting back against oppression Black crime figures were inflated by police stereotypes and racist attitudes
Because black community was powerless their actions were selected for particular attention e.g. drug use
Bowling and Phillips
Would argue that it is not ethnicity but poverty and the exclusion from society that leads to the high number of EMG convicted of crime
Bowling and Phillips ethnicity
Bowling and Phillips (2002) have reviewedanumber of ethnographic studies of crime amongst British Asians, for example, early studies indicated that Asians committed less crime than other ethnic groups:
Links to mawby and batta
Mawby and batta
Mawby and Batta (1980) found that most Asíans in Bradford were relatively poor and living in inner city areas. However, the study found they committed few crimes because of the emphasis on family honour which encouraged conformism. They were afraid of dishonouring the family name
Later studies find an increase in Asian crime: desai
Desai
Desai (1999) found that young Asian men were taking a more aggressive stance in combating racist attacks. Some Bangladeshi boys were making a self-conscious attempt to counteract the image of them as weak and passive
Alexander
Alexander (2000) argues that the media image of a growing problem of Asian gangs is something of a myth. AlthoUgh there was some violence in the area of south London covered by her study, it was greatly exaggerated by the media.
Ethnic minorities and victimisation
Some victim studies show much crime occurs within ethnic groups
Ethnic minorities appear to have higher rates of victimisation but this could be becaUse they are already in high risk groups (tyoung, working class, inner city etc.)
Two crimes where ethnic minorities have much higher rates of victimisation are homicide and racially motivated (hate) crimes
The police recorded 54,000 racist incidents in the year 2014-2015
Bui note; what constitutes a racially motivated crime is problematic so this will not include all racist attacks
Surveys show many ethnic minority groups express a higher level of ‘fear of crime’
