Using evidence from available research, describe and analyse the experi

For any individual prison can be a daunting and psychological challenge. Experiences can have lifelong effects and can often traumatise those incarcerated. However the experience minority ethnic prisoners face can be deemed diverse. They can become victims of discrimination, racism violence and harassment all on the basis of their race, skin colour, or nationality. Scott and Codd (2010, P. 70) note that ‘prisoners from certain believed culturally or biologically determined ‘racial groups’ are understood as being genetically, intellectually or socially inferior beings, thus contributing to their own poverty of life experiences and criminal identity'. Scott and Codd (2010) state that ‘the prison place racism is a key dimension of the expression of power, shaping prejudicial decisions, exclusionary practices and the physical manifestation of violence, bullying and intimidation’. Scott and Codd (2010, P.70) put forward that ‘this penal terror go es even further for some, such as foreign national prisoners, as it can exacerbate the structured pains of the prison itself. Jewkes and Johnston (2006, P.107) found that ‘prisoners from ethnic minority backgrounds have faced a long struggle in getting the Home Office and Prison Service to recognise their diverse cultural, religious and dietary needs’. Jewkes and Johnston (2006) put forward that the UK prison population has risen by 15,000 since New Labour came to power in 1997, and has doubled since Margaret Thatcher took office in 1979. Inmates from ethnic minority backgrounds account for a large percentage of this figure. For example the white population increased by 36 per cent, Black population grew by 196 per cent, south Asian populations grew by 120 per cent and Chinese/other Asian... ...cial harassment to get their complaints investigated. Overcrowding enforced cell sharing and became a problem of poor management from governors. Gadd and Dixon (2010) announced that Keith (2006) produced 88 steps to rectify these shortcomings. These included the following; the end of enforced cell sharing, the implementation of risk assessment in decisions about cell allocation; violent reduction strategy, Keith (2006) suggest this approach makes prisoners think they have let other prisoners down if they resort to violence on other inmates. Mental health screening and routine reviews on prisoners’ emotional well-being were also included (Gadd and Dixon 2010). Conclusion Looking at the work of Edgar (2007) his four typologies of understanding racisms in prison can help give a broader acknowledgment of what BME groups face and experience when incarcerated.