Ethnicity, gender and community sentences

• In Event: Sentencing and justice outcomes over defendants' ethnicity, gender, age and area of residence

Abstract

The use of community sentences has declined considerably over the last decade in England and Wales. Over the same period, the use of immediate prison sentences has increased. This is concerning because community sentences used well can reduce the number of short prison sentences and have consistently been found to be better than short prison sentences in preventing reconviction. Recent research by the author indicates that, within England and Wales, men and women from ethnic minority groups receive short prison sentences with fewer previous convictions compared to those who are white. One of the reasons for the decline in community sentences could be a loss of confidence by sentencers that they are an effective alternative to prison. There is a lack of information on the relationships between ethnicity, gender and the requirements and effectiveness of community sentences. Better understanding of these relationships has been identified as crucial by HM Inspectorate of Probation. This paper presents findings from administrative data analysis examining differences between ethnic groups and men and women in the number and type of requirements that make up community sentences. It also examines the effectiveness of different requirements in terms of successful completion.

Author

• Angela Sorsby, University of Sheffield