ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses problems facing black women in prison service establishments. It reviews the apparent truism with a view to defending black women and black men against possible ‘drugs war crimes’ of unjustifiable stereotypes and Victimisation-As-Mere-Punishment. The higher proportion of black women (compared with black men) and white women suggests that black women faced significantly different problems in the criminal justice system. The high proportion of black people among the non-criminals in prison also reinforces the view that there is disproportionate criminaiisation and victimisation of black people. The complaint to be considered came from a black female prisoner, aged 20. In July 1983, the ‘Prison Department Circular Instruction 56/1993’ was issued by the Home Office as an official statement on race relations, with emphasis on derogatory language and discriminatory work or training allocation. The chapter concludes the presentation of evidence for the uniqueness or otherwise of the problems that face black women in the criminal justice system.
