Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Oct 1998

Vol. 495 No. 4

Written Answers. - Sex Offenders Treatment Programme.

Jack Wall

Question:

43 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has assessed the treatment programme for sex offenders held in Arbour Hill prison; if he will ensure that prisoners are not transferred from this prison unnecessarily in order that they may be able to undertake these treatment programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20268/98]

Jack Wall

Question:

54 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will expand the number of places available on treatment programmes for sexual offenders in prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20269/98]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 54 together.

The sex offender treatment programme in Arbour Hill can cater for up to ten offenders at any one time and takes ten to 11 months to complete. The emphasis is on the offender accepting personal responsibility for the offence and on developing effective relapse prevention strategies. All convicted sex offenders who are in custody, irrespective of the institution in which they are accommodated, are invited to apply to participate in the programme. Those who apply are considered by the treatment team but not all are found to be suitable. Where more than ten offenders who have applied are deemed suitable, the places on the next programme are allocated to those nearest the end of their sentence. The others are offered a place on a subsequent programme.

Transfers of prisoners from one institution to another takes place for operational reasons. I can assure the Deputy, however, that a prisoner participating in the treatment programme would not be transferred except in exceptional circumstances.

All sex offenders are encouraged to avail of treatment, however, they cannot be compelled to attend, nor do they receive any extra concessions for attending. The clinical psychology service and Probation and Welfare Service actively encourage sex offenders to address their needs around their offending behaviour. Important work in this regard is done in individual sessions by members of both services. An integral part of this work is preparing sex offenders for, and encouraging them to apply for, the sex offender programme at Arbour Hill.

My Department has commissioned the clinical psychoogy department at University College Dublin to conduct a detailed evaluation of the group treatment programme at Arbour Hill. This will take a number of years to complete and should eventually provide empirical data that demonstrates the efficacy of treatment, as measured by reduced recidivism amongst treated offenders compared to an untreated group.

In the meantime, I am keen to increase the number of group treatment places available for sex offenders and, to this end, my Department is actively examining the possibility of locating a further group treatment programme for ten sex offenders at the Curragh place of detention. In view of the specialised skills necessary to set up and run such a programme it is taking some time to put a new programme in place. Of course, any prisoner currently there may apply to participate in the dedicated treatment programme in Arbour Hill prison.

The Deputy may also wish to note that a new non-therapeutic programme for offenders, "The Thinking Skills Training Programme", was introduced in Arbour Hill Prison earlier this year. A significant number of sex offenders in Arbour Hill have commenced this new programme. A similar programme has also been introduced in Cork prison. This programme is designed to target a range of offenders, including sex offenders. The programme will be run by multi-disciplinary teams, including prison officers, probation and welfare staff and teaching staff under the guidance of my Department's psychology service. The skills in this new programme include general strategies for recognising problems, analysing them and considering non-criminal alternatives, how to consider the consequences of their behaviour — to think before they act, how to go beyond their own view of the world and consider the thoughts and feelings of other people, and how to develop the ability to control their own behaviour and avoid acting impulsively.

Such structured interpersonal work with offenders represents a significant development of the role of the prison officer and a new and challenging development within the Prison Service.