CYP Now - Black children in care face ‘double whammy of disadvantage’ in youth justice system

Black and ethnic minority children in care are being “accelerated” through the criminal justice system due to a dual threat of “care system failings” and racism by police and the courts, an academic report has warned.

Black children are more likely to be given harsher sentences by the courts, research shows. Picture: Adobe Stock

It warns that looked-after children from black and minority ethnic backgrounds are more likely to be criminalised and impacted by instability within care placements.

They are also more likely to receive a custodial sentence when being dealt with by courts, the report warns.

This effectively doubles the disadvantage they encounter in the youth justice system.

Based on in depth interviews with children’s services and youth justice experts as well as analysis of latest data, the research found that failings in the care and criminal justice systems “result in institutionalised criminalisation of black and minority ethnic looked-after children who must contend with both the stigma of their ethnicity and of being in care”.

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