The Corston Report: A review of women with particular vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system
| DOI | 10.1177/02645505070540030805 |
| Date | 01 September 2007 |
| Author | Madeline Petrillo |
| Published date | 01 September 2007 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Key findings and recommendations
Key findings included:
● A lack of confidence among Asian staff with regard to how management
addresses diversity issues;
● A perception of change in attitudes towards Asian staff which was directly
related to the events of 9/11;
● A lack of understanding from other black and minority ethnic (BME) and
white staff regarding Asian culture; and
● Concern about promotion chances and job security.
Recommendations included:
● A review of current support for Asian staff;
● Increasing awareness of diversity issues via training;
● Reviewing the area race and diversity policies;
● Ensuring that current recruitment aims for a representative service;
● Reviewing local service responses to local and national events;
● Ensuring that any changes to recruitment, retention and progression are
linked into the Home Secretary’s Employment Targets and include greater
involvement from probation areas in terms of ownership of the Asian
perspective;
● Encouraging Asian staff to go for promotion through an approach that is
not perceived to give special treatment of any sort, like positive action;
● Providing a more detailed analysis of probation area recruitment targets,
in order to ensure that issues of staff marginalization/discrimination are
acknowledged and addressed.
Gurmit Heer
Lecturer in Criminal Justice, University of Central England
The Corston Report: A review of women with particular
vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system
March 2007 saw the publication of Baroness Jean Corston’s review of women in
the criminal justice system. The review focused on women who the author regarded
as being inappropriately located in prison and all those outside who are at risk of
offending. The Corston Report calls for radical changes to the way in which offend-
ing by women is addressed by the criminal justice system. The report is based on
a nine month review and draws on expertise from statutory and voluntary organiz-
ations,...
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