What is discrimination?

Question 1

What is it

Answer 1

Discrimination: “a pattern of exercise of police
powers which results in some social categories
being overrepresented as targets of police
action even when legally relevant variables
(especially the pattern of offending ) are held
constant” (Reiner, 2010: 160)
• Different from ‘differentiation’
• Different from prejudice and bias (attitudes)

Question 2

Categorical discrimination

Answer 2

By the virtue of belonging to another group, colour

Question 3

Statistical discrimination

Answer 3

Discrim by influence of statistics - who is more likely? You stop that group but risk…

Question 4

Transmitted discrimination

Answer 4

Following up cases and going by on whats being reported - descriptions from victims might be discriminating? They can’t remember skin colour and say a specific one b/c they think…

Question 5

Interactional discrimination

Answer 5

Encounters and rapport with police. Who are police more lenient towards? (example with police on street, community policing)

Question 6

Situational discrimination

Answer 6

Available for the police in public spaces. More likely you are in spaces, more likely to be caught etc

Question 7

Institutional racism

Answer 7

Macpherson: Institutional racism
“The collective failure of an organisation to
provide an appropriate and professional
service to people because of their colour,
culture or ethnic origin. It can be seen or
detected in processes, attitudes, and
behaviour which amount to discrimination
through unwitting prejudice, ignorance,
thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping which
disadvantages minority ethnic people”