Ethnicity crime and justice Flashcards
what are the trends with ethnicity and crim + justice
- black people make up 3% of the population but 13% of the prison population (over represented )
- white people under presented at all stages of CJS
what are victim surveys
- aski individuals to say what crimes they have been victim of
- in the case of muggings, black people are significantly over- represented
- also shows many crimes are instra- ethnic - takes place within ethnic groups
what are the limitations of victim surveys
- rely on victim memories
- only cover personal crimes
As a result they tell us about the ethnicity of a small proportion of offenders which may not be representative
what are self report studies
- Ask individuals to disclose own dishonest/ violent behaviour
- whites are more likely to admit to offending
- findings of self report studies challenge the sterotypes of black being more likely to offend
what did Graham and Bowling say about self report studies
blacks and whites had similar rates of offending, while Indians and Pakistanis had lower rate
what are the stages of the criminal justice system
policing stop and search arrests and cautions prosecution and trials convictions and sentencing presentence report prison
what is policing
step 1 of the criminal justice system
many allegations of oppressive policing of minority ethnic groups
Phillips and Bowling: since the 1970s there has been allegations of oppressive policing of ethnic communities including armed raids + excessive surveillance
what is stop and search
step 2 of the criminal justice system
black people are 7x likley to be stopped and searched, Asians 2x
Asians are more likley to be stopped under terrorism act
ethnic minorities are more likley to think they are ‘over policed’
what are the three reasons that stop and search are disappropiate
- police racism link to Steven Lawrence and McPherson report
- ethnic differences in offending - reflects level of offending
- demographic factors - more likely to be stopped eg the young
what are arrests and cautions
step 3 of the criminal justice system
arrests rates 3x for black people, black people + Asians are less likely to receive cautions
one reason may be that ethnic minorities are more likley to deny offence and not be let of with caution
what is precaution and trial
step 4 of the criminal justice system
criminal prosecution service more likley to drop cases against ethnic minorities
evidence weaker and based on stereotypes
more likley to elect for trial in a crown court which imposes harsher sentences
what are convictions and sentencing
step 5 of the criminal justice system
black and Asians less likely to be found guilty suggest discrimination that police are bringing weaker evidence
blacks given sentences on average 3 months longer than whites
what is the presentence report
written by probation officers, risk assessment for sentencing
reports on Asians offenders less comprehensive and ‘demonised’ Muslims after 9/11
what are the rends about prison
blacks 4x likely to be in prison
ethnic minorities less likley to be granted bail
similar patterns in other countries eg america
why did ‘black criminality’ come to be seen as a problem
from the mid 1970s, increased conflict between the police and African Caribbean community and higher arrest rates for street crime
when were Asians viewed to be a problem
1990s - with media concerns about the growth of ‘Asian gangs’. In the events of 2001 widespread clashes between police and Asian youths in northern England and 9/11 helped to crystallise the idea that Muslims and Asians were the enemy
what are the two main reasons for ethnic differences in the statistics
- left realists
- neo Marxism
what do lea and young argue about ethnic differences in crime
argue that ethnic differences in the stats reflect real differences in the levels of offending by different ethnic groups. They argue that racism has led to marginalisation and economic exclusion of ethnic minorities, who face higher levels of poverty, poor housing
what do Lea and young argue about police and racism
they acknowledge that police often act in racist ways and this leads to unjustified criminalisation of some members of ethnic minorities. However they believe discriminatory policing doesn’t fully explain the difference in stats - 90% of crimes are reported by public not police
what are the criticisms of lea and Young
stereotypes may have changed since 9/11 because police now regard Asians as dangerous which explains the rising criminalisation rates for this group
what does Gilroy black criminality
it is a myth created by racist sterotypes but as a result the police act on these sterotypes and ethnic minorities come to be criminalised and so appear to be greater in stats.
How does Gilroy (neomarxist) see minority crime
can be seen as a form of political resistance againsts a racist society and this resistance has its roots in earlier struggles in British imperialism. Also holds a similar view of critical criminology which argues that working class crime is a political act of resistance to capitalism
How is Gilroy (neomarxist) criticised by lea and young
- Asian crimes are similar or lower than whites, which would mean the police were only racist towards blacks which is unlikely
- like critical criminologists, lea and young criticise Gilroy for romanticising the criminals as somehow revolutionary
what do Hall et al (neomarxist) argue about the 1970s
saw a moral panic over black muggers that served the interest of capitalist. Ruling class normally rule the subordinate class with consent but in terms of crisis this is difficult.
