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On Friday, November 7th, Action for Race Equality (ARE) in partnership with Clinks will be hosting a two-part event tackling ethnic inequalities in the criminal justice system (CJS).
The online event brings together researchers, practitioners, and community voices to explore how racial and ethnic disparities persist and accumulate across the justice system.
Drawing on new research findings from the Economic and Social Research Council- funded, Cumulative Disadvantage in the CJS project and linked Ministry of Justice Data First datasets, the event will provide a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and the co-creation of solutions.
The research reveals that ethnic inequalities in the criminal justice system are not isolated incidents but the result of cumulative disadvantage, where early decisions such as arrest, remand and plea choices can compound and lead to harsher outcomes for Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups. Even after accounting for factors like offence type and plea, disparities in sentencing remain, highlighting that systemic bias persists across multiple stages of the process.
The linked datasets also allow researchers to trace individuals’ journeys through the system, exposing how disadvantage builds over time and underscoring the need for reforms that address the entire justice pathway, not just sentencing.
Hosted by Action for Race Equality (ARE) and Clinks, the programme will feature two sessions: a research panel and discussion, followed by an interactive workshop.
Sign up now:
Research and Panel Discussion
Date: 7th November 2025
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am
Principal Investigator Dr Kitty Lymperopoulou will present the latest evidence on ethnic disparities, followed by a panel of experts from public and voluntary/community organisations working in the Criminal Justice System.
Confirmed panellists include Hindpal Singh Bhui (HMIP inspection team lead), Katrina Ffrench (Founding Director, Unjust), Sammy Odoi (Founder, Wipers CIC), and Professor Eithne Quinn (co-author, Racial Bias and the Bench).
Interactive workshop
Date: 7th November 2025
Time: 11.15am – 1pm
Participants will rotate between thematic online “tables” to discuss research findings on remand and ethnicity, plea decisions, sentencing outcomes, and cumulative disadvantage, and will help shape practical recommendations for change.
This event will engage practitioners from statutory and non-statutory organisations, justice system user groups, young people, and members of the public, aiming to increase awareness and support for effective action on ethnic inequalities. Participant feedback will inform policy briefings and a final set of recommendations to be shared widely across justice sector networks.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: By registering to this event, you consent for information collected to be used to potentially inform later work. This consent can be withdrawn at any time.
Registration
To register for the first session, please register here.
The second session offers in-depth practical workshops designed for justice system practitioners and users. Due to the interactive nature of this session, participation is limited.
Please register your interest to participate in this session here.
This event is supported by the Economic and Social Research Council as part of the the Festival of Social Science.
For more information or enquiries, please contact: Meka Beresford via meka@actionforraceequality.org.uk.
