Ivor Callely
Ceist:58 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice the procedures for a prisoner to avail of short-term or full temporary release; if she is satisfied with such procedures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5304/97]
Written Answers. - Temporary Release.
The granting of temporary release is a statutory function of the Minister for Justice under the Criminal Justice Act 1960.
Temporary release may be granted to prisoners serving sentences of imprisonment or detention for various reasons, including compassionate reasons such as the illness of near relatives, bereavements, christenings and first communions of children. Temporary release may also be granted to help with resocialisation programmes in the case of longer term offenders. In all cases the views of the gardaí are taken into account in deciding on whether or not to grant temporary release.
In every case release is subject to the condition that the person released must be of good behaviour. Various other conditions may be applied; e.g. the individual concerned may be subject to supervision by the probation and welfare service, he or she may be required to report at regular intervals to a Garda station, or to reside at a particular location and so on. If any of the conditions are breached the individual concerned can be immediately returned to custody without the need for fresh proceedings.
Short-term releases may be granted for different periods of time, as appropriate, ranging from a few hours to one or two days. Full temporary release, where an offender is not required to return to the prison, is normally granted in appropriate cases where the offender is nearing the end of his or her sentence.
In so far as the operation of the system of temporary release is concerned, I am satisfied with the procedures currently in place.