Dermot Ahern
Ceist:53 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to establish a statutory body to assist released prisoners to integrate back into society. [18400/96]
Vol. 470 No. 1
53 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to establish a statutory body to assist released prisoners to integrate back into society. [18400/96]
The prison system has no "hold" on an offender once the offender has served his or her sentence and no authority at that stage to direct an offender's behaviour in any way. Despite this, however, I am aware that a proportion of offenders would welcome some guidance and assistance to enable them to integrate into society. My Department's policy document "The Management of Offenders — A Five Year Plan" acknowledged that one of the greatest difficulties facing offenders, and especially those who have served long prison sentences, is that of coping in the community when released from custody. The question, for example, of compulsory supervision post-expiry of sentence may well present legal and, indeed, constitutional problems.