Becoming Visible: Gypsy Roma Travellers in Prison

In February 2014 Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons found 1/20 of all prisoners to be from a Gypsy Roma or Traveller background.1 The findings beg further investigation to fill the gaps in knowledge, and, encourage debate (in contrast to the silence) around why so many GRT people are incarcerated, or, at risk of being so in the near future. Apposite to the disclosure by HMIP this article focuses on the literature available on GRT communities and the criminal justice systems across the UK, Ireland and elsewhere in Europe. In particular, attention is drawn to key works sourced during compilation of my 2008 PhD.2 In the first instance the historic invisibility of GRT communities within criminal justice systems is analysed, followed by a critical evaluation of literature concerning policing of these communities. Thereafter and prior to a conclusion, attention is focussed on how we might theorize the situation of Gypsy Roma Travellers within criminal justice systems.

http://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/publications/psj...