Patrick Costello
Question:1175. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice her views on the rates of recidivism; her plans to tackle this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38336/23]
View answerMonday, 11 September 2023
Questions (1175)
Written answers
As the Deputy will be aware, the latest Prison Re-Offending Statistics from 2020, published by the Central Statistics Office earlier this year, show a drop in re-offending rates within 1 year of release from prison to 41%. This is the lowest one-year re-offending rate since first estimates of custodial re-offending were calculated and 13% lower than that first reference year 2011.
The Deputy will also be aware the Central Statistics Office Probation Re-Offending Statistics 2018 report published at the end of 2022 indicated that 70% of people who received a probation order did not re-offend within one year of receiving the order and demonstrated a consistent pattern of reduction in re-offending rates of people under probation supervision since the tracking of re-offending rates began in 2008.
These publications are an important resource that provide us with insights that can inform the development of appropriate policy responses and help us ensure we have effective policies in place to manage offenders and support individuals to pursue lives away from crime.
I can assure the Deputy that the Government continues to be focused on reducing reoffending including by diverting people, where appropriate, from the criminal justice system and ensuring the underlying causes of offending behaviour are addressed.
This is not something that can be done with just a criminal justice response. It requires action on the part of other Government Departments and agencies.
That is why the Programme for Government contains a broad range of policies and proposals that represent a coherent approach to enhancing and sustaining a more just and safe society, and a specific commitment to review policy options for prison and penal reform. In fulfilment of this commitment the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024 was published last year.
This report and its recommendations seek to find the balance so that people who commit serious crimes receive a punishment and a period of incarceration proportionate to that crime, while at the same time ensuring that the courts have a wide range of appropriate options for dealing with those who have committed minor offences and who might otherwise receive a sentence of 12 months or less.
This targeted approach will facilitate a more tailored response so that the interventions made will be more effective in preventing people falling into a cycle of offending behaviour.
Further as the Deputy will be aware, non-custodial penalties, particularly supervised community sanctions, play a significant and important role in addressing criminality, reducing reoffending and providing a degree of protection to the public. This is supported by Central Statistics Office figures on recidivism.
The relationship between substance misuse and offending behaviour is well understood and if we address the addiction issues, we can help people break the cycle of offending. We also know that a significant number of people committed to prison have mental health issues.
That is why the Departments of Health and Justice established a High Level Task Force to consider the mental health and addiction challenges of those who come into contact with the criminal justice sector.
The Report and Recommendations of the High Level Task Force which were published last year aim to ensure better support for people at the earliest point at which they come into contact with the criminal justice system.
When implemented, they will divert people away from the criminal justice system where appropriate, while supporting them in their rehabilitation from addiction and in the recovery and management of their illness. The recommendations also seek to address the question of better support for prisoners in their rehabilitation when justice requires a prison sentence, and that progress made in prison is not lost after release. Building on existing best practice, the recommendations ensure there is adequate provision of services and sufficient safeguards in place to support rehabilitation and throughcare from custody to the community.
Education is also a key factor in ensuring people build crime-free lives. The Prison Education Taskforce was established on 23 May 2023 and is jointly chaired by the Minister of Further Education and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Minister of State with responsibility for Law Reform in the Department of Justice. The aim of this Taskforce is to ensure improvements in the work and training area and greater alignment between prison education and the tertiary education system to support prisoners in benefiting from education and training opportunities while in custody to support their rehabilitation and access to employment post - release.