Ethnicity, Crime And Justice

Question 1

What are the stats of ethnicity and crime?

Answer 1

Black people make up 3% of the population but 13% of prison population
Black and Asians over represented
Whites underrepresented

Question 2

How is policing biased?

Answer 2

Stop and search- reasonable suspicion. Black people are 7 times more likely to be stopped and searched. More likely to be tasered
Explaining stop and search- police racism. Stephen Lawrence case showed institutional racism in MET police
Arrests and cautions- em are more likely to deny allegations and exercise the right to legal defence. More likely to be let go if it is admitted
Prosecution and trial- more likely to choose a jury so it is not biased- more severe sentences
Convictions and sentencing- less likely to be found guilty which shows bias
Pre sentence reports- less comprehensive and suggests they were less remorseful

Question 3

How do left realists explain ethnic differences?

Answer 3

Face higher levels of poverty- exclusion and relative deprivation

Question 4

What does Gilroy argue?

Answer 4

Black criminality is a myth, they are no more likely to commit crime than any other. Ethnic minority crime is a form of political resistance against a racist society, and this resistance has its roots in earlier struggles against British imperialism

Question 5

How do Lea and Young criticise Gilroy?

Answer 5

First generation immigrants in 1950s were law abiding so anti colonial struggle is not passed down
Romanticises street crime as revolutionary

Question 6

What does Hall et el argue?

Answer 6

1970s saw a moral panic over black muggers that served the interests of capitalism 
When opposition to capitalism began to grow with strikes the ruling class needed to use force to maintain control. Media created mugging and said it was growing with blacks even though it wasn't. This distracted arrention from the true cause of unemployment

Question 7

How was hall et el criticised?

Answer 7

Do not give evidence how the moral panic occurred or showed public panicking
Left realists argue that it is realistic to panic about mugging

Question 8

How have ethnic minorities responded to victimisation?

Answer 8

Situational crime prevention like fireproof doors, organised self defence groups