27 Feb 2013, 17:13
The Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality today, Wednesday, 27th February, heard a stimulating and interesting presentation from Mark Johnson, Founder, User Voice who outlined his vision for penal reform.
Committee Chairman David Stanton, TD, said: “Today we had a very positive and enlightening meeting with Mark Johnson, founder of User Voice, a charity set up to engage those who have experience of the criminal justice system to help bring about its reform and to reduce offending.
“Mark Johnson had a history of serious crime, homelessness and drug abuse and has had personal experience of the UK’s penal system before going through rehabilitation at the age of 29 and setting up User Voice and becoming a leading figure in the criminal justice reform movement.
“Today, he provided us with a comprehensive and indepth presentation on his experiences of crime and the penal system and outlined his vision for penal reform and a criminal justice system that would see offenders as key to their own rehabilitation, key to improving the system and instrumental in reducing offending.
“We were delighted to meet with Mr Johnson and would like to thank him for attending our meeting today and for his presentation.”
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee Membership
Deputies: Niall Collins (FF); Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (FG); Alan Farrell (FG); Anne Ferris (LAB) [Vice-Chairman]; Seán Kenny (LAB); Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (SF); Finian McGrath (IND); John Paul Phelan (FG); David Stanton (FG) [Chairman]
Senators: Ivana Bacik (LAB); Paul Bradford (FG); Martin Conway (FG); Rónán Mullen (IND); Denis O’Donovan (FF); Katherine Zappone (IND)