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To the criminal justice system black and Muslim people embody our nightmares Black and Muslim people are the criminal justice system’s greatest fear
(about 2 hours later)
Imagine this: you are sitting on a train, going through notes for a speech. No one sits close to you, other passengers preferring to stand for several stops. You reach your destination. You give your speech, then answer probing questions. Afterwards, a member of the audience approaches you and apologises: she had seen you, she admitted, from a station platform sitting with your computer and your rucksack, and declined to board the train, thinking you might be a suicide bomber.Imagine this: you are sitting on a train, going through notes for a speech. No one sits close to you, other passengers preferring to stand for several stops. You reach your destination. You give your speech, then answer probing questions. Afterwards, a member of the audience approaches you and apologises: she had seen you, she admitted, from a station platform sitting with your computer and your rucksack, and declined to board the train, thinking you might be a suicide bomber.
Or imagine you are with your younger brother, walking to the bus stop, and you see that, in order to avoid you, an elderly woman has almost stepped into the path of a bus. You laugh loudly, and next thing you know, police are in attendance, radios crackling, notebooks out, claiming the right to search you and the frightened boy in your care.Or imagine you are with your younger brother, walking to the bus stop, and you see that, in order to avoid you, an elderly woman has almost stepped into the path of a bus. You laugh loudly, and next thing you know, police are in attendance, radios crackling, notebooks out, claiming the right to search you and the frightened boy in your care.
Consider the impact of these incidents replayed with variations for you, your friends, your family, until you are left with the conclusion that you can never be yourself and be accepted as a member of society.Consider the impact of these incidents replayed with variations for you, your friends, your family, until you are left with the conclusion that you can never be yourself and be accepted as a member of society.
Some of you reading this will not have to use your imagination: it will resonate with your own experiences. But for those of you for whom this is an alien world, ask yourselves what kind of mental toughness, what resources would you be able to summon to combat the feeling that all you will ever be is the embodiment of someone else’s nightmares?Some of you reading this will not have to use your imagination: it will resonate with your own experiences. But for those of you for whom this is an alien world, ask yourselves what kind of mental toughness, what resources would you be able to summon to combat the feeling that all you will ever be is the embodiment of someone else’s nightmares?
Disturbed by the alarming figures relating to young black and/or Muslim men in the criminal justice system, Black Training and Enterprise Group and the prisons organisation Clinks set up a task group to dig beneath the statistics.Disturbed by the alarming figures relating to young black and/or Muslim men in the criminal justice system, Black Training and Enterprise Group and the prisons organisation Clinks set up a task group to dig beneath the statistics.
With funding from Barrow Cadbury and cooperation from the Ministry of Justice, over 18 months we have been meeting black and Muslim offenders and former offenders, individuals and community organisations that work with them, service providers; criminologists, politicians, civil servants and policymakers. All seem to agree on one point. The outlook for this group of 18- to 24-year-old men is quite bleak, even more so than for their white counterparts.With funding from Barrow Cadbury and cooperation from the Ministry of Justice, over 18 months we have been meeting black and Muslim offenders and former offenders, individuals and community organisations that work with them, service providers; criminologists, politicians, civil servants and policymakers. All seem to agree on one point. The outlook for this group of 18- to 24-year-old men is quite bleak, even more so than for their white counterparts.
The figures confirm a disturbing picture. As well as disproportionately high numbers of both groups being stopped and searched by the police, the shocking fact is that Britain imprisons a higher proportion of its black population than the US. And since 2002, the percentage of Muslims in prisons in England and Wales has nearly doubled – though, contrary to popular perceptions, just 1% are imprisoned for terrorist-related offences.The figures confirm a disturbing picture. As well as disproportionately high numbers of both groups being stopped and searched by the police, the shocking fact is that Britain imprisons a higher proportion of its black population than the US. And since 2002, the percentage of Muslims in prisons in England and Wales has nearly doubled – though, contrary to popular perceptions, just 1% are imprisoned for terrorist-related offences.
In prison this pattern of disproportionate representation continues: black/mixed-origin prisoners spend more days than average in segregation, and are more frequently subject to the use of force.In prison this pattern of disproportionate representation continues: black/mixed-origin prisoners spend more days than average in segregation, and are more frequently subject to the use of force.
Despite knowledge of these and other critical facts, for many years there has been a lack of leadership in addressing these issues: indeed, race and ethnicity seem to have slipped down the political agenda, giving way to matters of faith, extremism, and immigration.Despite knowledge of these and other critical facts, for many years there has been a lack of leadership in addressing these issues: indeed, race and ethnicity seem to have slipped down the political agenda, giving way to matters of faith, extremism, and immigration.
These young men have grown up with the reality of racism and discrimination in most aspects of their lives – from mental health to education, from employment to policing. Offenders and ex-offenders we spoke to experience the constant drip of pernicious stereotyping intensely: the impact on them and their developing sense of male identity is yet to be fully grasped.These young men have grown up with the reality of racism and discrimination in most aspects of their lives – from mental health to education, from employment to policing. Offenders and ex-offenders we spoke to experience the constant drip of pernicious stereotyping intensely: the impact on them and their developing sense of male identity is yet to be fully grasped.
The lack of deep understanding on the part of politicians and policymakers of the many ways that cultural difference is played out on the streets, in the classroom, in institutions and agencies needs to be urgently addressed.The lack of deep understanding on the part of politicians and policymakers of the many ways that cultural difference is played out on the streets, in the classroom, in institutions and agencies needs to be urgently addressed.
When we spoke to Muslim offenders, most stressed how their faith was a source of strength to them and helped them through the difficult patches. Yet communal praying is often viewed with suspicion by authorities, seen as a sign of terrorist plotting. Black prisoners congregating are perceived as a different kind of threat – it is all about gangs. It appears that political rhetoric and media reporting form part of the institutional thinking about black and Muslim offenders.When we spoke to Muslim offenders, most stressed how their faith was a source of strength to them and helped them through the difficult patches. Yet communal praying is often viewed with suspicion by authorities, seen as a sign of terrorist plotting. Black prisoners congregating are perceived as a different kind of threat – it is all about gangs. It appears that political rhetoric and media reporting form part of the institutional thinking about black and Muslim offenders.
The experiences, and the feelings they give rise to, do not serve as justification for, or on their own explain offending behaviour. But it seems obvious that the intense disaffection that festers in our society and in our institutions will not help towards rehabilitation.The experiences, and the feelings they give rise to, do not serve as justification for, or on their own explain offending behaviour. But it seems obvious that the intense disaffection that festers in our society and in our institutions will not help towards rehabilitation.
I was moved by the experience of one former offender who had spent a total of 17 years in prison, though he was still under 40. He had been in care, his mother had mental health problems, he had gained little from school. Since his release from prison he had applied for 50 jobs without getting a single interview – we already know it can be more difficult for young black men without a criminal record to get decent jobs. Deciding to become self-employed, he applied for car insurance. Because of his criminal record, the insurers wanted £12,000 for one year. We have to ask ourselves, how are we going to keep him from re-offending?I was moved by the experience of one former offender who had spent a total of 17 years in prison, though he was still under 40. He had been in care, his mother had mental health problems, he had gained little from school. Since his release from prison he had applied for 50 jobs without getting a single interview – we already know it can be more difficult for young black men without a criminal record to get decent jobs. Deciding to become self-employed, he applied for car insurance. Because of his criminal record, the insurers wanted £12,000 for one year. We have to ask ourselves, how are we going to keep him from re-offending?
Understanding is not a question of making excuses for criminals: but in order to reduce crime and the havoc it wreaks, we have to find better ways of reducing the factors that contribute to offending behaviour.Understanding is not a question of making excuses for criminals: but in order to reduce crime and the havoc it wreaks, we have to find better ways of reducing the factors that contribute to offending behaviour.
Our report is not the first on race and ethnicity in the criminal justice system, but the poor results we found indicate that there is still much to do to achieve real progress.Our report is not the first on race and ethnicity in the criminal justice system, but the poor results we found indicate that there is still much to do to achieve real progress.