Double disadvantage: The experiences of black, Asian and minority ethnic women in the criminal justice system

DOI10.1177/0264550517724048
Published date01 September 2017
AuthorMadeline Petrillo
Date01 September 2017
Subject MatterResearch & reports
Research & reports
Research & reports
Double disadvantage: The experiences of black, Asian
and minority ethnic women in the criminal justice system
This report, Double Disadvantage, captures the voices, experiences and reflections
of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) women in the Criminal Justice System
(CJS). The report is based on research with three focus groups, two in prison and
one in the community, involving 20 BAME women. The project was a collaboration
between Women in Prison
1
and Agenda.
2
The report helpfully contextualizes the
research with an overview of BAME women in the CJS. This evidences the over-
representation of BAME women, particularly black/black British women. It notes,
for example, that 8.8 percent of female prisoners are black/black British despite
representing just 3.3 percent of the general population. It comments that BAME
women are more likely to be living in a deprived area, to be subject to poverty, to
have experienced being in care and being excluded from school. They face the
same barriers to accessing services as white women but are further disadvantaged
by racial discrimination, stigma, isolation, cultural differences, language and lack
of employment skills.
Four themes emerged from the research.
The women did not feel their voices and stories had been heard in court.
All the women felt there had not been the opportunity for them to explain their
circumstances during trial. Many felt that issues such as psychological assessments
and caring responsibilities were not considered.
They felt that prejudice and subconscious ethnic or racial bias affected jury
assumptions and sentencing decisions.
The women who had been tried by jury raised concerns about the gender,
ethnic and age composition of juries, in particular that they were dominated by
older, white men. They felt this meant they had less understanding of their lives
and were subconsciously biased against them. The women felt they were unfairly
subject to deterrent sentencing and that this was also a result of subconscious
prejudice.
Probation Journal
2017, Vol. 64(3) 293–300
ªThe Author(s) 2017
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DOI: 10.1177/0264550517724048
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The Journal of Community and Criminal Justice

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