Racism And Differences In Rates Of Arrest : Labelling Theories Of Institutional Racism

Question 1

Mac pherson report

Answer 1

Published following a review of a failed police investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawerence, despite the overwhelming evidence that he was killed because of his race. The report agreed that they failed to take the case seriously due to institutional racism

Question 2

Stop and search

Answer 2

Minorities, especially black males are significantly more likely to be stopped a searched by the police, even if they are not doing anything wrong - negative stereotyping

Question 3

Canteen culture

Answer 3

Racist ‘ banter ‘ in their free time, if the police think it is acceptable to mock people + make jokes on race in their free time, influence how they go on to behave in frontlines

Question 4

Arrests and Cautions

Answer 4

Black people are three times more likely than white people to be arrested following a stop and search, suggesting that the police are more likely to interpret their behaviour as aggressive

Question 5

Prosecution and trial

Answer 5

More likely to be dropped when arrest cases involving black suspects are referred to the cps - suggests that the evidence that police have is weak. Officers have few grounds to arrest black people, but do so anyways

Question 6

Convictions and punishments

Answer 6

When cases are referred to court, black people are likely to be trialled in a crown court with a jury - on going mistrust with the black community + positions in power. Juries are less likely to find ethic minority suspects guilty

Black people were 5% more likely to receive custodial sentences and longer

Question 7

Evaluation

Answer 7

Labelling theory gives people a victim status, ignoring the real victims of crime