define institutional racism in the criminal justice system
Khadija Khan Ba (Hons) Community & Youthwork What do you understand by the term ‘institutional racism’? Discuss this in relation to the British criminal justice system Institutional racism is defined by the Macpherson Report 1999 as “The collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin which can be seen or detected in processes; attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping which disadvantages minority ethnic people”(Dennis et al 2000). The concept of institutional racism in the criminal justice system has been used to describe the way that people from ethnic minorities are discriminated against at various stages in the criminal justice process. The issues of racism as they affect the position of ethnic minorities within the criminal justice system have been given increased attention. The death of Stephen Lawrence 10 years ago and the report into his murder brought to light the widespread failings in the criminal justice system and validated what people from ethnic minorities had been saying for years, “we live in a two tier society, one rule for whites and another for the black community”. ... The Macpherson Report had profound significance for its recognition, acknowledgment and acceptance of the problem of institutional racism. ... Without recognition and action to eliminate such racism it can prevail as part of the ethos or culture of the organisation. ... The term institutional racism has in itself caused debate between the Police, Politicians and black campaigners. ... Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens assures the public that he is committed to ending police racism. He rejects the term “institutional racism” because every man and women in the force cannot be racist. ... Ten years on from the Macpherson Report this programme showed that racism has been driven underground. ... For the purposes of this assignment I will be discussing institutional racism in the Police, the courts, sentencing and in Prisons. Due to the constraints of the word count I will only be looking at evidence on men and not both men and women’s experience of the criminal justice system. After the Scarman Enquiry in the early 1980’s it was accepted that Police racism existed but it was a case of “ a few rotten apples”. ... According to the Macpherson Report institutional racism permeates the Metropolitan Police Service. ... (Gilroy 1987) Racial disparities in the use of stop and search are one of the key areas of institutional racism in the police. ... These people may not have committed a crime but because of stereotypical images of black people being innately criminal stop and search was justified. ... Black people are more likely to be known to the police and even to have a previous criminal record (often arising from earlier stops and searches) and therefore can be targeted to be stopped and searched again.