The Lammy Review: Treatment of and outcomes for BAME adults and young people in the CJS
| Author | Becky Shepherd |
| Published date | 01 December 2017 |
| Date | 01 December 2017 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0264550517740997 |
| Subject Matter | Research & reports |
Research & reports
Research & reports
The Lammy Review: Treatment of and outcomes
for BAME adults and young people in the CJS
Lammy commences by citing the overrepresentation of BAME people in the CJS. The
review examines multiple aspects of the CJS, including the CPS, custody and
rehabilitation (there is no chapter on the police). He makes 35 recommendations
Disproportionality
Lammy identifies significant gaps in data recordingacross the CJS, making it difficult
to pinpoint where overrepresentation occurs. An American data model, the Relative
Rate Index (RRI),is cited, which is designed toisolate the impact each stage of theCJS
journey has on disproportionality.This enables a nuanced, detailed pictureto be built
up of how BAME overrepresentation in the CJS occurs and at what stage. Lammy
recommends thatRRI research be conducted bienniallyby the government to build up
an ongoing picture of the impact of CJS decision-making at all stages.
Lammy also recommends the ongoing publication of Ministry of Justice (MoJ)
datasets on ethnicity, to continually improve the available data, and that if dis-
crepancies in outcomes for BAME groups are identified, the default position of all
CJS agencies should be to ‘explain or reform’.
Crown Prosecution Service
Lammy notes that there is already significant overrepresentation of BAME defen-
dants when cases are passed to the CPS, due to very disproportionate arrest rates
by the police. Black men, women and boys are significantly overrepresented at
arrest stage. Black boys are more than 10 times more likely to be arrested for drug
offences than white boys.
CPS charging decisions were found to be broadly equitable, although Lammy
recommends that whilst currently reworking its guidance on Joint Enterprise, the CPS
should also review its approach to gang prosecutions in general. He recommends
that Modern Slavery legislation be used to its fullest against those who recruit,
exploit and equip young people with drugs and weapons.
Lammy recommends race-blind prosecution decision-making wherever practical,
whilst praising the CPS for its openness to scrutiny, which he considers relevant to
The Journal of Community and Criminal Justice
Probation Journal
2017, Vol. 64(4) 422–431
ªThe Author(s) 2017
Reprints and permissions:
sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav
DOI: 10.1177/0264550517740997
journals.sagepub.com/home/prb
To continue reading
Request your trial