ABSTRACT
This chaptetr aims to test three hypotheses in relation to the operation of the juvenile justice system in Wolverhampton in 1990. The hypothesis includes: disparity of sentencing between ethnic groups; disparity is manifest in higher tariff sentencing of Black defendants in relation to whites; and responsibility for this disparity is, in part, associated with Social Inquiry Reports (SIR) content. The study based upon a sample of 282 cases heard in Wolverhampton Juvenile Court in 1990 it was found that African-caribbean defendants are over-represented and Asians are under-represented in the court population in relation to the ethnicity of the town’s 10-17 year old population. In drawing conclusions and making recommendations it is intention to address the changed circumstances in which practice now takes place as well as highlighting issues which remain an on-going item on the justice agenda. Many social services departments are committed to system management and have adopted diversionary policies.
