Dermot Ahern
Question:53 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to establish a statutory body to assist released prisoners to integrate back into society. [18400/96]
Written Answers. - Reintegration of Prisoners.
The prison system has no "hold" on an offender once the offender has served his or her sentence and no authority at that stage to direct an offender's behaviour in any way. Despite this, however, I am aware that a proportion of offenders would welcome some guidance and assistance to enable them to integrate into society. My Department's policy document "The Management of Offenders — A Five Year Plan" acknowledged that one of the greatest difficulties facing offenders, and especially those who have served long prison sentences, is that of coping in the community when released from custody. The question, for example, of compulsory supervision post-expiry of sentence may well present legal and, indeed, constitutional problems.
Perhaps I should point out to the Deputy that the probation and welfare service of my Department is already involved in the supervision of offenders on release from custody but only where those releases occur prior to the end of the sentence. In this regard I got Government approval, as part of the major crime package I announced last July, for the appointment of ten additional staff for the probation and welfare service to supervise offenders on early release. There are a number of services within the prison system where offenders can avail of counselling and training with a view to their rehabilitation and reintegration in society: the psychology service, the probation and welfare service, the chaplaincy service and the education and work and training service. All these services have a role to play in preparing offenders for their eventual release and very often for putting in train arrangements in the community to help them to reintegrate. A number of offenders, upon release, go to hostels where assistance is provided to help these people to re-integrate into society.
I am not currently proposing to establish a separate statutory body over and above the many statutory agencies that exist to assist people in society in general.