Clinks Newsflash | Young Review launched today

Clinks has been working with the Black Training and Enterprise Group to support Baroness Young’s review into improving outcomes for young black and/or Muslim men in the Criminal Justice System. The lives of these people are often characterised by a complex mix of educational, employment, health and social inequalities.

In the context of the Transforming Rehabilitation reforms and beyond, there is an urgent need to ensure that new providers understand and meet the needs of this group. If we are serious about reducing reoffending and making communities safer places we cannot afford to ignore this issue. The report highlights that:

• Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) offenders are more likely to serve a prison sentence and receive harsher treatment in prison than their white counterparts.
• There is greater disproportionality in the number of black people in prisons in the UK than in the United States.
• Since 2002 the percentage of Muslims in prisons in England and Wales has nearly doubled from 7.7% to 13.4%. In comparison, Muslims make up only 4.2% of the general population.
• In prison, black or mixed origin service users are subject to higher rates of adjudication, more likely to be in segregation, and more likely to be subject to the use of force.

Despite a number of previous reviews and inquiries into this subject there has not been sufficient leadership from all sectors to drive forward action to address this issue. The Young Review highlights the specific experiences and needs of this group, and sets out a series of recommendations that aim to ensure action takes place to address unequal outcomes; from prison to resettlement.