Routledge Negative Images: A Simple Matter of Black and White?: An Examination of 'Race' and the Juvenile Justice System

Product Description That black young people have been subject to unequal treatment in the youth justice system has been the belief of some individuals and groups, reinforced, at best, by anecdotal evidence. Negative Images: A Simple Matter of Black and White? provides not only evidential weight to uphold this view but also provides some insights into the processes by which it comes about. Findings of a case study detailed in the book demonstrate how in one youth court black youths were over-represented amongst those receiving high-tariff sentencing and that this over-representation could not be explained by seriousness or persistence of offending. Whilst responsibility for differential sentencing has often been laid at the door of Magistrates, this study reveals how social work court report practice may be contributing to the situation. From the Author Black youths are unfairly treated within the justice system Are Black young people subject to more punitive sentencing in the courts? And if they are, is it because of greater criminal activity or unequal treatment within the system. This study shows how, in one court, Black young people were shown to receive higher tariff sentences which could not be explained by differences in criminal activity. Instead it is apparent that court report authors, recognising the increased risk of higher tariff sentencing presented Black people in a way which, paradoxically, contributed to higher tariff sentencing being imposed. The justice system has moved on since the study was undertaken but it is apparent that the process has remained largely unchanged. Report authors place Black young people in a stereotypical social context in order to shift responsibility for offending away from the individual and as a means of generating sympathy for their plight. Sentencers, however, look for signs of changes in the circumstances in which the original offences were commited. If they can find no signs of change they may impose more punitive sentences in order to induce changes in behaviour through deterence. Consequently, it can be seen that attempts to reduce the vulnerability of Black young people to high tariff sentencing misfire and may result in the opposite effect from that which was intended. Paul Cavadino did me the great honour of reading the manuscript and writing the foreword. Enjoy! About the Author Bruce M. Kirk, Wolverhampton Social Services Department, UK