ABSTRACT
Large numbers of Romani people are found in prison populations across Europe and the evidence shows they are more heavily policed and are incarcerated at a higher rate than other ethnic or racialized groups. There is also highly disturbing evidence of mistreatment while in prison. The European Roma Rights Centre found, for example, that Roma represented 16 percent of the prison population in Macedonia, but accounted for 50 percent of all prison deaths in the country in 2017. Similar disparities in imprisonment and deaths in custody appear in other European states. The focus of this chapter is a critical discussion of the criminalization and imprisonment of Roma communities throughout Europe and the steps required to enhance social justice for Romani people.
