Written Answers. - Custodial Sentences.
Eric J. Byrne
Ceist:
36
Mr. E. Byrne
asked the
Minister for Justice
the total number of persons given custodial sentences in 1995; the total number given such sentences following a conviction for drug-related offences; the proportion of offenders who received treatment for their addiction while in prison; the plans, if any, she has to further improve the drug treatment system in our prisons; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[9807/96]
Approximately 6,400 were committed on sentence in 1995.
A survey carried out in mid-1995 indicated that approximately 5 per cent of offenders in custody at that time were serving sentences for "drug offences" such as the possession or importation of controlled drugs. A further 25 per cent, however, were serving sentences for offences which were thought to be related to the offender's drug addiction e.g. robberies or burglaries to finance the purchase of drugs.
Individual prisoners' medical files are confidential in the context of the doctor/patient relationship and it is not possible, therefore, to give the proportion of offenders who received specific treatment for drug-related problems.
All prisoners, however, including those who are suffering from drug addiction, have daily access to the prison medical officer who may arrange for appropriate treatment in each case, either within the institution or as required at outside hospitals. There are a range of services in place for drug addicted prisoners including a comprehensive education programme and a high degree of involvement with community-based agencies active in this field, who visit the prisons on a regular basis.
Further developments include the commissioning, in the near future, at Mountjoy prison's health care unit of a self-contained integrated treatment facility for prisoners suffering from drug addiction. This facility which will operate on a strictly voluntary basis will provide a humane detoxification programme backed up by a course of therapy specially designed to enable prisoners to come to terms with their addiction and to provide them with the means to become, and more importantly, to stay, drug-free both during their remaining time in prison and following release into the community.
The facility will operate to the highest medical standards and will draw on the experience and expertise of those with a proven track record in dealing with drug abuse in the community. The staffing of the unit will comprise of medical, GP, psychiatric, pharmacy and nursing services. A comprehensive urine testing service will also be provided. The treatment facility will also provide the setting for the delivery of methadone maintenance programmes to those prisoners assessed as suitable, subject to medical and other criteria such as sentence length. Other recent positive developments in this area include the opening, at the training unit, of the State's first custodial drug-free unit where all inmates have formally committed themselves to a drug-free existence — this aspect is closely monitored by means of regular and random urine testing.
In addition, committals to Mountjoy prison found to be suffering from drug addiction are now able to avail of a detoxification programme of up to 14 days duration — subject to medical assessment. This treatment approach is in line with medical developments in this field in the community.
