Race on the Agenda (November 2008) Less Equal Than Others: The Race for Justice Campaign
On November 17th 2008, Race on the Agenda (ROTA), Clinks, NACRO, Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health and the National Body of Black Prisoner Support Groups released the Race for Justice report, 'Less Equal Than Others; Ethnic Minorities and the Criminal Justice System'.
The report highlights the need for the government to act decisively in shaping policy to redress the over-representation of people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds in the criminal justice system. The report highlights the fact that around 26% of the prison population in England and Wales is from a BAME background when the same groups account for 9% of the broader population. Looking at the direct experience of BAME communities of the system, it found they were more likely to be prosecuted, less likely to be cautioned, less likely to get bail and more likely to serve longer prison sentences for similar offences.