Criminalising the poor: a public health, political and ethical Injustice

Abstract Issue The criminalisation of poverty refers to the unfair treatment of individuals and communities by the Criminal Justice System (CJS) due to their poverty. There is extreme injustice in this system-prisons full of the vulnerable, mentally ill and addicted largely from poorer backgrounds. CJS policies are ineffective. Alternative methods of support and fair punishments are required, available and evidence based. Description 1000s are sentenced for minor offences such as begging or sleeping rough. Homelessness is caused by complex social issues which cannot be solved by criminal sanctions. Those jailed for poverty-driven behaviours e.g. stealing food, almost invariably suffer harsher sanctions than those for ‘white collar’ crimes e.g. tax evasion. It's untenable for our CJS to function as it does. Results A network of organisations and disciplines including the ‘Is it a Crime to be Poor ‘ Alliance are actively researching and campaigning on this injustice. Harsher sentencing in Britain has had disastrous consequences. Almost all crimes attract a much longer sentence than they used to with 3x as many people sentenced to ten years or more in 2023 than 2010. Many prisoners are locked up for 23 hours a day. Britain could save £2.5bn if it adopted the European average rate of imprisonment. Lessons Evidence shows that alternative models of policing are available and effective. The UK's age of criminal responsibility, for example, is the lowest in Europe. ‘We look at a 12 year-old who commits a crime and say ‘lock them up’ whereas in Portugal they say ‘How have we failed this child?’. There is widespread support in the UK for a more enlightened and effective approach including community sentences, treatment rather than jail for drug related crime, and hospital treatment for the mentally ill. People are 3x more likely to support preventing reoffending rather than punishing offenders. Key messages • Strengthen collaboration between public health and the justice system. • Identify and adopt effective evidence-based practices.