Are we a racist society or is it just the police who are so ? Or are there other reasons for the high black prison population ?
There are 2.3 million Black, Asian and Minority Women (BAME) in the UK, making up just under 4% of the total population of the UK. In 2002 BAME women made up less than 8% of the total female population of the UK but accounted for close to 31% of female prisoners. Black women are over-represented in prison. Black female prisoners make 26.4% of female prisoners while black males account for 24% of male prisoners. Black British women in prison make 11.6% compared to only 2% of all British women. British Asian women prisoners make 4% of the female prison population. There is a high number of foreign national prisoners and at present 1 in 5 women in prison are foreign nationals. Foreign national prisoners come from 168 countries (Jamaica, The Irish Republic, Nigeria, Pakistan, Turkey and India). A quarter is Jamaicans by far the largest group.
What does the over-representation of Black women in prison mean? Does that mean Black women commit more serious offences or that racism plays a part in the number of black women sentenced to prison? Most of research on women focuses on white women while research on race and criminal justice system focus on Black males. Is it the view that racism does play a part on the number of Black women sentenced to prison. Do black women suffer from triple oppression, race, class and gender disadvantages.
According to Home Office (2003/4) Race and the Criminal Justice, black people are just over six times more likely to be stopped and searched, three times more likely to be arrested, and seven times more likely to be imprisoned than white people. Black people are four times while Asian people are 3.5 times likely to be stopped under Terrorism Act, 2000 (ibid). It is agreed in British criminology that black people are less likely to receive probation. There is no research which has specifically looked at how often black women are stopped by the police in UK.
There are 2.3 million Black, Asian and Minority Women (BAME) in the UK, making up just under 4% of the total population of the UK. In 2002 BAME women made up less than 8% of the total female population of the UK but accounted for close to 31% of female prisoners. Black women are over-represented in prison. Black female prisoners make 26.4% of female prisoners while black males account for 24% of male prisoners. Black British women in prison make 11.6% compared to only 2% of all British women. British Asian women prisoners make 4% of the female prison population. There is a high number of foreign national prisoners and at present 1 in 5 women in prison are foreign nationals. Foreign national prisoners come from 168 countries (Jamaica, The Irish Republic, Nigeria, Pakistan, Turkey and India). A quarter is Jamaicans by far the largest group.
What does the over-representation of Black women in prison mean? Does that mean Black women commit more serious offences or that racism plays a part in the number of black women sentenced to prison? Most of research on women focuses on white women while research on race and criminal justice system focus on Black males. Is it the view that racism does play a part on the number of Black women sentenced to prison. Do black women suffer from triple oppression, race, class and gender disadvantages.
According to Home Office (2003/4) Race and the Criminal Justice, black people are just over six times more likely to be stopped and searched, three times more likely to be arrested, and seven times more likely to be imprisoned than white people. Black people are four times while Asian people are 3.5 times likely to be stopped under Terrorism Act, 2000 (ibid). It is agreed in British criminology that black people are less likely to receive probation. There is no research which has specifically looked at how often black women are stopped by the police in UK.
