Bernard J. Durkan
Question:123 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the total number of prisoners now serving sentences of two years or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6374/01]
Written Answers. - Prisoner Statistics.
On 1 June 2000, the latest date for which the information sought by the Deputy has been published, there were 1,669 prisoners in custody serving sentences of two or more years. This represents approximately 64% of the total prisoner population of 2,618 on that day.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:124 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the total number of prisoners serving life sentences and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6375/01]
There are currently 116 life sentence prisoners in custody. They have served various periods in prison, ranging from individuals recently committed to one particular prisoner committed in 1964. In addition, 77 offenders who were committed on life sentences are currently on release in the community. The majority of these offenders served between nine years and sixteen years in custody. In practice, most such offenders were granted renewable temporary release whereby, unless the conditions of release are breached, there is no requirement to return to prison, except to renew the temporary release at specified intervals. Offenders on renewable temporary release must be of good behaviour and remain under the supervision of the Probation and Welfare Service. Temporary release automatically ends if any conditions are breached, in which event the individual concerned can automatically be returned to custody, without an additional warrant or further court proceedings.