Ethnic Disparities In Criminal Justice Report

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Scholars have increasingly scrutinized the disproportionate representation of certain ethnic groups within the criminal justice system. In this essay, I will be discussing the multifaceted phenomenon of ethnic disparities which occur in criminalization and victimisation presented in criminal justice statistics. Understanding mechanisms which drive the intersecting model of ethnicity, and the criminal justice system, will equip us for the striking differences presented in the Report ‘Statistics on Ethnicity and the Criminal Justice System’ (2022, 2024) which highlights how ethnic minorities (excluding white minorities) seem to be overrepresented at many stages throughout the criminal justice system. This essay will unravel factors that contribute …show more content…
In 1960, police engaged in practices referred to as ‘nigger hunting’ (Hunte 1966). The derogatory and offensive practice implies the deliberate and systematic effort to discriminate against black people, resulting in unjustified stop and searches, as cited above. This evocative term encapsulates a troubling reality where black individuals are disproportionately subject to intensified scrutiny by law enforcement agencies such as the police. Bowling and Phillips (2003) draw upon Stuart Hall et al’s ground-breaking work, ‘Policing Crisis’ (1978), which illustrates how stereotypes regarding the criminality of black individuals led to their disproportionate targeting by law enforcement. Hall’s seminal study provides insights into the origins of disparities within criminal justice statistics about ethnicity. The focus was paralleled by representations in the media and the criminal justice system, framing black communities as a ‘social problem’, crafting a ‘folk devil’ narrative. The ‘folk devil’ refers to a group or person who is portrayed by mass media and society as a threat to norms and societal values (Cohen 1900). This demonized status rationalized the intensified policing of minority communities. This elucidation underscores the intricate interplay between societal perceptions and the production of statistical disparities in the realm of criminal justice, particularly concerning ethnicity. Elements of police racism have seeped into contemporary contexts which contributes to the explanation of the striking differences which are presented in criminal justice