NCJ Number
149710
Date Published
1994
Length
33 pages
Annotation
The distribution of the minority ethnic population in the criminal justice system of England and Wales is detailed with respect to minority victimization risk, minorities as suspects and offenders, and minority representation in criminal justice agencies.
Abstract
The 1992 British Crime Survey (BCS) showed that, for certain types of household and personal crimes, black and Asian people faced significantly higher risks than whites. Other studies found that Asians were less likely than whites to be stopped by the police, black persons were less likely to be cautioned than whites, charges brought against black persons were different than those brought against whites, and black defendants were more likely than whites to be remanded in custody. Still other studies observed racial disparities in attitudes toward the police, crime reporting, court processing and sentencing, and treatment in prisons. The number of racial incidents reported to the police in England and Wales increased from 4,383 in 1988 to 7,734 in 1992. Data are provided on minority representation in the Police Service, the Probation Service, the Crown Prosecution Service, courts, the legal profession, the Prison Service, and the Parole Board. Criminal justice system initiatives are described that focus on minorities and racial discrimination, and a profile of minorities is presented that reflects minority group size and composition, age and place of birth, and socioeconomic characteristics. Supplemental data on the minority ethnic population is appended. Tables and figures