Written Answers. - Temporary Release of Prisoners.
Frances Fitzgerald
Question:
15
Ms Fitzgerald
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the number of prisoners on temporary release; the number who are under supervision while on release; the number of prisoners unlawfully at large; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6649/98]
Michael Creed
Question:
61
Mr. Creed
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the number of prisoners on temporary release; the number who are under supervision while on release; the number of prisoners unlawfully at large; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6648/98]
Nora Owen
Question:
100
Mrs. Owen
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the number of prisoners on temporary release; the number who are under supervision while on release; the number of prisoners unlawfully at large; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6645/98]
Nora Owen
Question:
112
Mrs. Owen
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the number of prisoners on temporary release; the number who are under supervision while on release; the number of prisoners unlawfully at large; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6646/98]
Question:
120
Mr. Hayes
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the number of prisoners on temporary release; the number who are under supervision while on release; the number of prisoners unlawfully at large; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6647/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 61, 100, 112 and 120 together.
On 10 March 1998 there was a total of 549 prisoners on temporary release and 1,148 offenders who were classed as being unlawfully at large. I should explain that persons classed as being "unlawfully at large" consist, for the most part, of people on temporary release from prison who have failed to comply with one of their release conditions.
The number of prisoners under supervision by the probation and welfare service while on temporary release can vary from day to day. I am not, therefore, in a position to give a current figure. However, in December 1997, the latest month for which figures are available, there were 85 offenders on supervised temporary release.
As the Deputy will be aware the granting of temporary release is a statutory function of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, under the Criminal Justice Act, 1960. Temporary release may be granted for various reasons to prisoners serving sentences of imprisonment. Short-term releases may be granted for different periods of time ranging from a few hours to one or two days and for a variety of reasons, including compassionate reasons, such as the illness of a near relative, a bereavement, christening or first communion of a child. Temporary release may also be granted for longer periods up to and including final release. Weekly renewable temporary release is used, for instance, to allow offenders to attend training and other courses or to obtain employment. Full temporary release — in other words final release — is normally granted only in cases where the offender is nearing the end of his or her sentence. Temporary release may also be granted for resocialisation programmes in the case of longer term offenders. Each application for temporary release is considered carefully and in most cases the views of the Garda are taken into account.
In every case granting temporary release is subject to the condition that the person released must be of good behaviour. Various other conditions may also apply. For example, as referred to above, the individual concerned may be subject to supervision by the probation and welfare service, he or she may be required to report at regular intervals to a Garda station, or to reside at a particular location and so on. If any of the conditions is breached the individual concerned can be immediately returned to custody without the need for fresh proceedings.
