Trying to Get It Right: What Prison Staff Say About Implementing Race Relations Policy

• NCJ Number: 227372
• Journal: Criminology & Criminal Justice Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2009 Pages: 187-206
• Author(s): Jon Spencer; Ilona Haslewood-Pocsik; Emily Smith
• Date Published: May 2009
• Length: 20 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

Based on research that explored the relationship between British national legislation, prison service policies, and the experiences of prisoner and Prison Service staff, this study examined the views of Prison Service staff regarding the complexities of implementing race relations policy in the prison environment.

Abstract

At the time of the research fieldwork, the Prison Service's race relations policy was contained in the Prison Service Order 2800/97 and Prison Service Instrument 37/2005 on the Management of Race Relations. They imposed requirements on each prison to put in place a local management structure that would provide Black and minority ethnic prisoners protection from racial discrimination. Each prison was required to have a Race Relations Management Team (RRMT), which would develop and administer race relations policy and practice. The introduction of RRMI's was a positive strategic step in addressing race relations in prisons; however, this research found that the RRMT sometimes lacked authority to address significant problems. Also the inclusion of prisoner representatives on the RRMT, the key to the success of the RRMT, was complicated by the turnover of prisoners. The Race Relations Liaison Officer (RRLO) post was introduced in 1981, and in 1983 became a requirement for every prison. The duties of the RRLO included monthly ethnic monitoring, dealing with racist incidents and complaints, reporting to the RRMT on race relations in the prison, and acting as a central source of information on relevant legislation and policy. In addition to the difficulties of this job, RRLO's lacked authority due to their personnel grade; and the job was unpopular among many Prison Service Staff. In September 2006, the Prison Service issued a new order on race relations, which altered the policy; the proposed change to practice may help to alleviate some of the problems identified by this research. 8 notes and 24 references