Race and Probation

Recent years have seen significant policy and practice developments in relation to race and crime, alongside a burgeoning body of research evidence about the needs and experiences of minority ethnic offenders, the behavior of racially motivated offenders, and what works to reduce recidivism by members of both groups. Race and Probation reviews this field, drawing upon the largest study of minority ethnic probationers ever conducted in Europe, and examines the reasons behind the stark contrast between the experience of white and black minority ethnic people in some areas of the criminal justice system. Contributing to the wider debate about race and crime, Race and Probation is essential reading.

The issue of minority ethnic groups' experiences of the criminal justice process, and in particular whether they are subject to disadvantageous treatment, has received much attention in recent years following high-profile events such as the publication of the Macpherson report in 1999 and the riots involving British-born Asian youths in northern towns in 2001. At the same time there has been a burgeoning body of research evidence about the needs and experiences of minority ethnic offenders, the behaviour of racially motivated offenders, and concern with 'What Works' to reduce recidivism by members of both groups. This book reviews this field, drawing upon the largest study of minority ethnic probationers ever conducted in Europe, and seeks to understand the 'stark contrast between the experience of white and black minority ethnicpeople in some areas of the criminal justice system'. Part 1 of the book sets out the context of recent policy, research and practice initiatives; Part 2 focuses on the needs and experiences of minority ethnic offenders; Part 3 discusses aspects of recent practice and policy; Part 4 reviews conclusions and the way forward. Race and Probation also contributes to the wider debate about race and crime. The lessons learned will be of key importance as new arrangements linked to NOMS (National Offender Management Service) come in to place. It will be essential reading forprobation trainees and students of criminal justice, for probation practitioners and managers, and for academics and researchers in the field.

Introduction: race, crime and community penalties, Adam Calverley, Gurpreet Kaur and Soheila Sadeghi Part One: Background 1. Room for improvement: a history of the Probation Service's response to race, Maurice Vanstone 2. Racially motivated offenders and the Probation Service, David Smith 3. Race, Probation and Inspections, Rod Morgan Part Two: Black and Minority Ethnic offenders: their needs and experiences 4. Black and Asian men on probation: who are they, and what are their criminogenic needs?, Peter Raynor and Sam Lewis 5. Black and Asian men on probation: social exclusion, discrimination and experiences of criminal justice, Bankole Cole and Ali Wardak 6. The experiences of female minority ethnic offenders: the other 'other', Loraine Gelsthorpe 7. Not black and white: mixed heritage experiences of criminal justice, Sam Lewis and Jill Olumide Part Three: Recent Developments 8. Designing and delivering programmes for minority ethnic offenders, Patrick Williams 9. What Works with Black and minority ethnic offenders: solutions in search of a problem?, Rachel K. Walmsley and Kate Stephens 10. Minority ethnic experiences of probation supervision and programmes, Sam Lewis 11. What might work with racially motivated offenders?, David Smith Part Four: Conclusions 12. Race and community penalties: conclusions and next steps, Sam Lewis, Peter Raynor, David Smith and Ali Wardak