Robert Molloy
Ceist:239 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons convicted of serious crimes who have been released without serving their full sentences in each year since 1990. [10434/96]
Written Answers. - Temporary Releases.
The annual number of full temporary releases granted from 1990 to 1993, the latest year for which accurate figures are available, is set out below. The breakdown of these figures by offence type is not readily available. It would require the manual examination of over 30,000 records and the use of staff time could not be justified.
|
Year |
No. of full temporary releases |
|
1990 |
1,979 |
|
1991 |
1,619 |
|
1992 |
2,782 |
|
1993 |
3,564 |
Indications are that the number of full temporary releases granted is now about 4,000 per year. Approximately, 4,500 individuals, which would include some of the 4,000 referred to above, would be granted varying periods of short-term temporary release in the course of any one year.
Before granting temporary release the Minister has regard to a number of factors, including the nature and seriousness of the offence.