Reviews: Race and Probation
| Author | Neil Graver |
| Published date | 01 September 2007 |
| Date | 01 September 2007 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0264550507080375 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Race and Probation
Sam Lewis, Peter Raynor, David Smith
and Ali Wardak (eds)
Willan Publications, 2005; pp 256, £24.95, pbk
ISBN 978–1–84392–143–1
Although black and minority ethnic (BME) people are over-
represented in the criminal justice system, there is scant
existing research about the needs and approaches to deliv-
ering an effective probation service for people from these
groups. The book contains chapters by criminologists,
researchers and practitioners about the relationship between race and the probation
service, and aims to ‘draw together the available evidence pertaining to race, crime
and community penalties’ (p. xvii). It is a resource for students and criminologists,
as well as for probation staff, who will find it useful for thinking about delivery
and what is so far known about the area.
The first chapter discusses the historical development of the probation service’s
approach to race, from the beginnings of the service through to describing the
impact of key projects, policy developments and structures such as NAPO and
ABPO. Subsequent chapters cover a wide range of themes, including the develop-
ment of approaches to addressing offenders’ racism, and problems in identifying
and addressing racially motivated behaviour. Chapter 3 discusses the number of
BME people in the criminal justice system, and possible discrimination in charging
and sentencing; this chapter will be of particular interest to pre-sentence report
authors. The final section concentrates on a discussion of the practicalities and
other issues surrounding programmes, and makes good use of quotations and
findings from a range of studies.
The book is clear about the fact that BME offenders are not a homogenous
group and both considers the viewpoints of different subsets of the BME population
in general, and includes specific discussion of approaches to BME women on
probation. It illustrates in particular the lack of evidence on the needs of BME women
and of mixed heritage experiences of criminal justice. However, the book does not
deal directly with issues of faith or specific approaches to different communities.
Most of the book examines specific findings from a Home Office commissioned
study of 483 men on probation within 17 probation areas. The authors present
289
Probation Journal
The Journal of Community and Criminal Justice
Copyright © 2007 NAPO Vol 54(3): 289–296
DOI: 10.1177/0264550507080375
www.napo.org.uk
http://prb.sagepub.com
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