Race, Ethnicity, Crime and Justice

Assignment Brief

Module Title: Race/Ethnicity, Crime & Justice 

Module Code: CR6016

MODULE AIMS

The purpose of this module will be to introduce students to the main academic arguments and research pertaining to race, ethnicity and crime and justice.  Initially students will explore key concepts such as race, racism, ethnicity, race relations, prejudice and stereotyping, institutional racism, discrimination, colonialism and post-colonialism. After which the module will look at, from a historical perspective, the political and socio-economic forces that have led to the differential experiences of racial /ethnic groupings (in Britain and to a lesser extent America) with regard to

1. offending and victimisation
2. stereotyping and criminalisation
3. bias and discrimination within the criminal justice process.

A key feature of this module will be the integration of key academic social science literature and research alongside popular culture analyses of ‘Hip Hop’, ‘Muslim-Spicific Crime’ ‘Bashment’, ‘Grime, ‘Drill’ and the associated style aesthetics’ – dress wear, speech, and film imagery – impact (or not) upon violent and offending behaviour.

MODULE LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this Module, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the key theoretical discourses of ethnicity / race and crime (1) how racist-thinking and practices both in the past and present have shaped black and Asian people’s patterns of racist victimization and criminalisation (2) understanding the significance and impact of racial discrimination within the criminal justice process

• Display knowledge and critical understanding of recent empirical research around black and Asian people’s patterns of offending and victimisation

• Demonstrate ability to think critically, to ‘read’ and digest empirical studies and theories of a complex nature;

• Ability to understand and critically deconstruct official crime statistics specifically related to racial and ethnic differences in (1) offending behaviour, and (2) arrest and imprisonment rates;

• Apply critical assessment to ascertain necessary strategies and policies that need to be adopted by key criminal justice agencies in order to obtain the confidence of Britain’s BAME populations.

• Display relevant research skills through on-line and hard copy library investigation;

• Application of knowledge acquired through the undertaking of a variety of activities including critical debate and essay writing

Sample Answer

Race, Ethnicity, Crime and Justice

Introduction

The relationship between race, ethnicity, crime, and justice has long been a subject of debate in criminology and social sciences. Discussions of racial inequality, discrimination, and stereotyping within the criminal justice system are not only academic concerns but also social and political issues that shape public perceptions of fairness, legitimacy, and justice. This essay explores key concepts including race, racism, ethnicity, institutional discrimination, colonialism, and post-colonialism, before analysing how political and socio-economic forces have shaped the experiences of minority ethnic groups in Britain and, to a lesser extent, the United States. It further considers patterns of offending and victimisation, the impact of stereotyping and criminalisation, and the continuing influence of popular culture on the construction of crime and racial identity.

Key Concepts: Race, Racism, and Ethnicity

The term race refers to socially constructed categories based on physical characteristics such as skin colour, while ethnicity denotes shared cultural traditions, language, and heritage. Racism is the belief that certain racial groups are inherently superior to others, and it manifests both at the individual and institutional level. Prejudice and stereotyping further reinforce discrimination, shaping how different groups are perceived and treated.

Institutional racism, defined in the Macpherson Report (1999) following the Stephen Lawrence case, remains a central concern in British policing. It highlights how systems, policies, and practices can disadvantage ethnic minorities even in the absence of overt racist intent. Post-colonial studies also stress that the legacies of colonial rule and empire continue to influence perceptions of minority groups, often casting them as outsiders or potential threats.

Historical and Socio-Economic Context

Understanding race and crime requires situating it within historical and socio-economic contexts. In Britain, waves of migration from the Caribbean, South Asia, and Africa shaped the demographic landscape after the Second World War. These communities often faced economic marginalisation, housing segregation, and employment discrimination. Such inequalities contributed to higher levels of poverty and social exclusion, which are known risk factors for involvement in crime.

Continued...