BTEG Criminal Justice Network News
How can the commissioning process improve outcomes for young BAME offenders?
The over-representation of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) individuals at every stage of the Criminal Justice System (CJS) is widely recognised by researchers, practitioners and service users. Despite notoriety over many years, this disparity in treatment still struggles to receive an effective response. Clinks and BTEG have produced a publication – How can the commissioning process improve outcomes for BAME offenders? - which is the result of a lively roundtable discussion, held in March and chaired by Baroness Lola Young, that aimed to reignite the debate about how to ensure improved outcomes for young BAME men. The report and a letter from Baroness Young have been sent to the
Secretary of State for Justice requesting a meeting. We will keep you updated on progress.
To download a copy of the report click here
Understanding the Social Deprivation Mindset
Trevor Hercules is an author, community activist and former offender.
BTEG has been supporting Trevor over the past 18 months and he is currently busy trying to establish his own charity.
There is an extensive article written by Trevor featured in the latest edition of the British Journal of Community Justice. It deals with his concept, the Social Deprivation Mindset (SDM). It’s a powerful piece that challenges the thinking behind the current approach to addressing recidivism.
Trevor’s concept challenges some of the thinking behind the current focus on reducing reoffending by addressing offending behaviour. Trevor’s assertion is that unless the underlying mindset of the offender is understood, interventions are only treating the symptoms of offending behaviour not the underlying causes.
Trevor has developed his own programmes which he hopes to deliver to offenders through prison establishments and within the community.
The article can be downloaded here
BTEG report on BAME women offenders
On 6th December 2012, BTEG hosted a roundtable to discuss issues facing women offenders from ethnic minority groups. The report from the event is now available and we will be sharing it with the MOJ and the members of the Corston funders group.
If you are involved in delivering services to BAME women offenders and would like to discuss the report please get in touch.
To download the report click here
BTEG film featuring Manchester member groups
BTEG has produced a short film featuring two of our network members based in Manchester. It provides an opportunity to get a greater understanding of the work of network members and the issues we are trying to address at BTEG.
The video can be viewed here
Attitudes to Police and Criminal Justice System
Crime continues to be one of the most controversial sources of racial tension between the police and local communities. Disproportionate use of stop and search remains widespread, with a massive difference in how different ethnic groups are treated. Black men are 26 times more likely that their white counterparts to be stopped and searched under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.
Black South West Network were commissioned by BTEG, with the support of Voscur, to look at the attitudes young BME people in the Avon and Somerset area had to the Police and Criminal Justice System.
The report can be downloaded here