Anti-Racist Probation Practice

This book moves beyond tokenistic responses to racism in the Criminal Justice System. It describes process, procedures and social relations in the work place which foster racism and offers strategies towards anti-racist practice in the probation setting.

The probation service has committed itself to anti-racist initiatives and those promoting equal opportunities for some time. However, the experiences of black people, whether as workers or ''clients'' indicates that the realities of day-to-day practice are far removed from this. Moreover, the picture is just as bleak if not even more so in other parts of the criminal justice system including the judiciary and the prison service. Anti-Racist Probation Practice addresses this conundrum and drawing on the experiences of black people makes practical proposals for moving forward in non-tokenistic ways. These include core areas of practice, for example court reports monitoring systems; resource allocation; and working relations. Arguing that process, procedures and outcomes in the work done must be taken together if individual, institutional and cultural racism are to be eradicated, the book shows that anti-racist probation practice must be taken seriously by both black and white people if it is to materialise.