For several decades, the unjust treatment of Black individuals has been noted within academic research and government reports; notably highlighted in The Macpherson Report (1999), The Lammy Review (2017) and The Casey Review (2023). It is understood that treatment within prisons is inadequate and insufficient, particularly for young Black males. However, academic literature and policies tends to focus on how to mitigate institutional racism that exists within the entirety of the criminal justice system (CJS), as opposed to addressing the root causes of systemic racial disparities and acknowledging the lived experiences of those who are affected by such issues. Whilst incentives and plans have been introduced to achieve an anti-racist CJS, such as The Police Race Action Plan, these plans appear to be a plaster for vast social issues. Although such incentives are in place to mitigate systemic racism within the CJS and reduce disproportionality for Black individuals in the system, these plans fail to consider the root causes of systemic racism, as well as the difference of experiences between ethnic groups; both of which are often overlooked. The authors question how UK plans and initiatives can reflect the needs of young Black males, if there is a lack of rich qualitative data and therefore, there is a lack of clarity about their needs.
The experiences of young Black men in prison
