NCJ Number
133594
Date Published
1991
Length
52 pages
Annotation
Interviews with 24 ex-offenders who were black or members of other racial minorities and with 28 white ex-offenders from the West Midlands area of England provided information on the impact of the criminal law and the criminal justice system on racial minorities in England.
Abstract
The interviews explored the participants' experiences of stop and search, arrest, detention, court proceedings, and prison. Results showed that both groups had negative experiences with the criminal justice system, but white and minority participants agreed that minority group members receive worse treatment. Minority participants also said that their friends and relatives had almost come to expect problems with the law and were resigned to not being treated fairly. Recommended changes include the use of mediation and other measures to improve complaint processing, the development of local criminal justice forums, the inclusion of nondiscrimination in future national legislation, and additional services for black ex-offenders. Tables and appended list of participants, summary of police powers, and 13 references