Black and Asian probationers: Implications of the Home Office study

Abstract

This article presents the main findings of a survey of Black, Asian and mixed heritage men supervised by the probation service in 2001-2003. It discusses the long-standing concern that minority ethnic groups may be subject to discriminatory treatment in the criminal justice system, and examines the probation service’s response to this concern. In the presentation and discussion of the findings, comparisons are made where possible with predominantly white probation samples. These suggest that minority ethnic offenders in the sample had received the same community sentences as white offenders with higher levels of criminogenic need. The possible meanings of this finding are explored, along with the implications of respondents’ views of what constitutes helpful probation practice.