asked the Minister for Justice whether in practice there is any difference between (a) ordinary imprisonment (b) imprisonment with hard labour and (c) penal servitude; and, if so, if he will give details of the difference, including variations in confinement, treatment, food, privileges or otherwise.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prison Sentences.
58.
Mr. Ryan
For all practical purposes there is no difference to-day in the treatment of persons sentenced to penal servitude and of those sentenced to imprisonment; nor, in the case of the latter, is there any difference in treatment where hard labour is included in the sentence.
There is, however, a distinction so far as the place of detention is concerned. While a sentence of imprisonment can be served at any of the prisons, persons sentenced to penal servitude must serve their sentences at either Mountjoy or Portlaoise prisons and, in practice, all male persons so sentenced are sent to Portlaoise.
The statutory regulations governing the conduct of prisons are contained in the Rules for the Government of Prisons, 1947, a copy of which is available in the Library.