ethnicity and crime Flashcards
(15 cards)
What do official stats show about ethnicity and crime in the UK?
A: Black people are overrepresented — 3% of the population but 13% of the prison population. Asians are also slightly overrepresented.
What does the Ministry of Justice (2021) report about ethnicity and criminal justice?
A: Black people are 9 times more likely to be stopped and searched, 3 times more likely to be arrested, and more likely to receive custodial sentences.
What is the role of police racism in ethnic differences in crime stats?
A: Stop and search rates are disproportionately high for ethnic minorities due to institutional racism and stereotyping.
🔑 Key theorist: Philips & Bowling (2012
What is the Macpherson Report (1999)?
A: Investigation into Stephen Lawrence’s murder. Concluded the Met Police was institutionally racist — failed to properly investigate due to bias.
What is the canteen culture?
A: Police workplace culture that involves racist stereotypes, bonding through banter and jokes that shape prejudice.
🔑 Associated with Holdaway (1983)
What is the Left Realist explanation of ethnicity and crime?
A: Ethnic minorities face relative deprivation, marginalisation, and subcultures, which leads to higher crime.
🔑 Key theorists: Lea & Young (1984)
How do Left Realists criticise the idea of police bias?
A: They agree racism exists but argue the higher rates of crime among black youth are partly real, due to social exclusion and inequality.
What is the Neo-Marxist view of ethnicity and crime?
A: Crime is a political response to racism and inequality — black criminality is a myth created by media and police to justify control.
🔑 Key theorist: Gilroy (1982)
How do Hall et al. (1978) explain ethnicity and crime?
A: During moral panic over “black muggers” in 1970s, the media created fear to distract from capitalist crisis. Crime was used to justify policing and divide workers.
What does Waddington (2004) say about stop and search?
A: Disproportionality is due to policing in high-crime areas (which often have more ethnic minorities), not necessarily direct racism.
What are the key criticisms of Neo-Marxist views on ethnicity and crime?
A: 1. Romanticises criminals as resistance
2. Ignores real victims of crime (often other minorities)
3. Doesn’t explain intra-ethnic crime
What is intra-ethnic crime and why is it significant?
A: Most crime is committed within ethnic groups (e.g., black-on-black). Undermines idea that crime is about resistance to white racism.
🔑 Supported by Lea & Young
What is the role of media in constructing ethnic stereotypes?
A: Media often portrays black and Asian men as dangerous or criminal, which reinforces stereotypes and justifies harsher policing.
Name two sociological explanations for higher ethnic minority conviction rates.
Institutional racism (Philips & Bowling)
Social exclusion and deprivation (Lea & Young)
