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'Tackle deprivation and discrimination' to deal with young black people in the criminal justice system
Nacro, the crime reduction charity, has welcomed the Home Affairs Committee report into young black people and the criminal justice system, but regrets that it opposes targets to reduce discrimination in the criminal justice process.
Commenting, Paul Cavadino, Chief Executive of Nacro, said:
"The report shows the need for a twin track approach to reducing young black people's over-representation in the criminal justice system, tackling deprivation and discrimination alongside each other.
“Young black people who are socially excluded, lack family support, or are homeless are more likely to offend. This is compounded by gang cultures and by institutional racism in education, which puts young black people at greater risk of school exclusion.
“The report's proposals to extend mentoring and to increase funding for prevention, rehabilitation and gang exit programmes deserve strong support.
"However, the Committee is wrong to oppose setting targets to produce more equal outcomes for young black people in the criminal justice process. Discrimination in the criminal justice system remains the most important factor behind the prosecution and imprisonment of disproportionate numbers of young black people.
“Criminal justice agencies should be given clear targets to reduce this disproportionality and should be held accountable if they do not achieve them."
ENDS
Notes to editors
1. Nacro, the crime reduction charity, is holding a one-day conference to discuss the outcomes of the report on Tuesday 19th June.
Speakers include John Denham MP, chair of the Home Affairs Committee, Professor Ben Bowling, King's College London, and Uanu Seshmi, From Boyhood to Manhood Foundation.
For more information visit:
http://www.nacro.org.uk/about/Young%20blackpeople%20&%20The%20cjs.pdf
2. Nacro provided written evidence to the Home Affairs Committee inquiry (page EV 389 of the report)
race, young black peope, Home Affairs Committee, John Denham, Paul Cavadino, discrimination
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