Ethnicity: Social Distribution of Crime and Deviance

What do official statistics show about ethnicity and crime?

some ethnic minority groups are over-represented at key stages of the criminal justice system compared with their share of the population

Which ethnic group is most likely to be stopped and searched according to official statistics?

Black people are significantly more likely than white people to be stopped and searched

Which ethnic group is most likely to be arrested according to official statistics?

Black people have higher arrest rates than white people

Why must official statistics on ethnicity and crime be treated with caution?

they may reflect criminal justice system practices as well as actual offending patterns

What is institutional racism?

discrimination built into the policies, practices, and culture of organisations such as the criminal justice system

Which report concluded that the criminal justice system was institutionally racist?

the Macpherson Report following the murder of Stephen Lawrence

What did Phillips & Bowling argue about policing and ethnicity?

ethnic minorities are often over-policed and under-protected by the police

How do stop and search statistics support claims of discrimination?

ethnic minorities are more likely to be stopped and searched despite relatively low arrest rates resulting from searches

What did Phillips & Bowling find about prosecutions of ethnic minority defendants?

cases against minority defendants are more likely to be dropped, suggesting weaker evidence or police bias

What evidence suggests Black offenders receive harsher treatment within the criminal justice system?

• more likely to be imprisoned

• less likely to receive bail

• may serve longer periods in custody

What is the demographic explanation for ethnic differences in official crime statistics?

ethnic minorities are disproportionately represented among groups that are younger, urban, and unemployed, all of which have higher crime rates

How can demographic factors create the appearance of higher offending rates among ethnic minorities?

ethnic minorities are over-represented in higher-risk social groups, which may inflate crime statistics

What is racist victimisation?

being targeted for crime, abuse, or harassment because of race, ethnicity, or religion

What evidence suggests racist victimisation is a significant problem?

hate crime statistics and victim surveys show ethnic minorities face a higher risk of racist abuse and attacks

What did Sampson & Phillips argue about racist victimisation?

it is often repeated and can cause long-term psychological and social harm

How have some ethnic minority communities responded to racist victimisation?

they have developed self-defence strategies and community protection measures due to mistrust of the police

What are the 2 main explanations for ethnic differences in official crime statistics?

• institutional racism within the criminal justice system

• real differences in offending linked to social disadvantage

How do Left Realists explain ethnic differences in offending?

• relative deprivation

• marginalisation

• social exclusion

What is relative deprivation?

the feeling that individuals themselves are unfairly disadvantaged compared with others in society

How can marginalisation contribute to crime?

marginalised individuals often lack political representation and legitimate means of expressing frustration

What did Lea & Young argue about ethnicity and crime?

higher crime rates among some ethnic minority groups are linked to relative deprivation and marginalisation rather than ethnicity itself

What is the racist stereotyping explanation of ethnic differences in crime statistics?

police and other criminal justice agencies may label ethnic minorities as more criminal, leading to greater surveillance and criminalisation

What did Gilroy argue about ethnicity and crime?

the idea that Black criminality is a myth created by racist stereotypes and discriminatory law enforcement

How did Gilroy explain some offending among ethnic minorities?

it can be seen as a form of political resistance against racism and inequality

What did Hall et al. argue about the media's portrayal of Black crime?

moral panics about mugging, in which young Black men were scapegoated, were used to divert attention from economic and political problems in the UK

What is a criticism of Hall et al.'s explanation?

• may exaggerate the extent to which the state can manipulate public opinion

• lacks strong evidence for a coordinated conspiracy between the media and the state