The Young Review 2014
Improving outcomes for young black and/ or Muslim men in the Criminal Justice System.
The disproportionately high numbers of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) offenders and the poor outcomes they face in the Criminal Justice System (CJS) have been drawn to the attention of successive governments, voluntary and public sector agencies for decades. The situation has frequently been the subject of independent scrutiny and attempted institutional reform. Yet despite this, poor results persist; arguably, we have now reached a critical point.
Starting its work in October 2013, one of the main aims of the Young Review has been to consider how existing knowledge regarding the disproportionately negative outcomes experienced by black and Muslim male offenders may be applied in the significantly changed environment introduced under the Transforming Rehabilitation (TR) reforms.
We convened a Task Group comprising ex-offenders and representatives from the voluntary, statutory, private and academic sectors to advise and help shape the Young Review. We set up discussion groups with service users, in prison and community settings, along with organisations that provide services to them. We also met with a range of representatives from statutory agencies and independent providers in the CJS. Our findings and recommendations are based on these discussions and meetings, and an examination of the available literature and data relating to young black and/or Muslim offenders.
