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Prisoner Welfare

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2020

Tuesday, 20 October 2020

Questions (517)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

517. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the steps being taken to ensure that women prisoners are not subjected to threats or violence from other inmates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31120/20]

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Written answers

I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that appropriate risk assessment processes are in place to ensure that all prisoners are accommodated in accordance with their level of risk. All female prisoners, whether they are committed to the Dóchas Centre or to Limerick Prison, are interviewed by the Governor who will ask a number of relevant security questions which help determine the level of risk, if any, posed to the prisoner or by the prisoner to others.

Prisoners are then assessed by healthcare staff and the prison doctor. A multi-disciplinary approach is taken in the future management of the prisoner's sentence, including the prison best suited to the needs and safety of the prisoner and that of the wider prison community. Many women in the custody of the Service are vulnerable and the Service continues to engage with external stakeholders with regard to their safety and their level of risk and needs, including engaging with An Garda Síochána and Tusla.

The Irish Prison Service Incentivised Regimes Policy operates in all prisons and provides for a differentiation of privileges between prisoners according to their level of engagement with services and level of behaviour. The objective is to provide tangible incentives to prisoners to participate in structured activities and to reinforce good behaviour, leading to a safer and more secure custody for all prisoners. The Dóchas Centre has a number of houses with various levels of security depending on the level of the Incentivised Regime that the women are currently on. Positive behaviour is rewarded by progression to the enhanced level which provides access to higher levels of privileges including increased visits, phone calls and access to temporary release programmes.

At all times members of staff are vigilant and report any areas of concern that may come to their attention.

Restorative Justice is practised in the Dóchas Centre through a number of qualified staff to help manage any conflict that might arise and weekly Multi Agency Meetings are held to discuss particular issues of concern.

Prisoner safety is paramount to the Irish Prison Service and under Rule 63 of the Prison Rules 2007, a prisoner may, either at his/her own request or when the Governor considers it necessary, in so far as is practicable and subject to the maintenance and good order and safe and secure custody, be kept separate from other prisoners who are reasonably likely to cause significant harm to him/her. If necessary, under Rule 62 of the Prison Rules, the Governor may decide for the maintenance of good order in the prison, to remove a prisoner from general association or structured activity to reduce the negative effect that prisoner may have on the general population.

Disciplinary action is taken by management against any prisoner who breaches Prison Rules by engaging in bullying or intimidating behaviour or who is violent towards any other person.

Finally, the Irish Prison Service has also successfully introduced a number of measures across the prison estate such as hand-held metal detectors, netting over prison yards and security screening machines to detect and prevent weapons from entering the prison to limit the scope of acts of violence.

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