Vol. 511 No. 3
33 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the documentation sought by the prison authorities on admission of a prisoner; if the details in this documentation are verified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24221/99]
Prisoners are committed to prison on foot of a court warrant which empowers the governor of the particular institution to hold the person named on the warrant. On committal to prison, the details on the warrant are read over to the person to be committed to ensure that he or she is aware of the reason for committal. If the person concerned contests the warrant, for example, if he or she states that he or she is not the person named on the warrant, verification is then sought. If the committing garda can identify the person, this is endorsed on the warrant. If the person is not known to the committing garda, he or she is taken away again and recommitted at a later time with some form of identification.
As part of the committal procedure, a document known as a committal details form is completed. A prison reception officer enters the pris oner's details on this form. The information entered is quite detailed and includes particulars of the current sentence and previous committal periods as well as personal details such as date of birth, address, next of kin, marital status, physical features and drug and psychiatric history. This form is signed by the reception officer and countersigned by the prisoner.
A medical orderly or prison nurse also interviews each prisoner on committal. The medical orderly or nurse takes medical details from the prisoner, including particulars of his GP, if any, current medication and medical history. The prisoner is also questioned regarding his history of drug or alcohol abuse, psychiatric illness and previous self-harm to provide the relevant information. The details are recorded on a medical record form.
The accuracy of the personal information entered on the committal and medical forms relies largely on the willingness of the prisoner to give full and frank details. The provision of any immediate follow up medical or other attention will often depend on the provision by the prisoner of accurate information.
Each prisoner is seen by the prison doctor within 24 hours of committal. In the event that the doctor considers, on the basis of his examination or the details declared by the prisoner, that further specialist referral, including psychiatric referral, is necessary, this is arranged. In the case where a prisoner declares a medical issue requiring verification or consultation with other medical agencies in the community, the prison doctor would make the appropriate inquiries having obtained the prisoner's consent to do this.
(Mayo): Has the Minister ever seen a committal document?
I cannot recall seeing one recently. I do not know how relevant that is.
(Mayo): It is a one page document which asks the prisoner's name, address, age and physical features. It asks if the prisoner is dependent on drugs and the answer invariably is no even though it should be yes. It does not seek medical records or reports from the Probation and Welfare Service. There are no details on previous convictions other than “did you do this, that and the other or have you had.?”. The information is all elicited by way of direct questions and answers with the person being incarcerated.
Does the Minister not accept that what is needed is a detailed questionnaire which would provide detailed information that can and will be verified and cross referenced rather than taken at face value from the individual concerned? There should also be details on educational attainment. That would be preferable to the haphazard, slovenly and slipshod manner in which prisoners are currently admitted to prison.
The details taken from the prisoner on committal to prison are as follows and if the Deputy can add to them, I would greatly appreciate it.
(Mayo): I have seen that.
A committal details form is filled out for every prisoner committed. The information on this form includes the following: prisoner's name; sentence; details of previous committals; date and place of birth; present and previous addresses; marital status; religion; occupation; physical details, for example, colour of hair, eyes and complexion; details of drug or psychiatric history; whether he or she can read or write; details of cash property on committal; and name and address of next of kin. The form is signed by the prisoner and by the committing officer. Perhaps Deputy Higgins can think of other details which should be included on the questionnaire.
Each prisoner is examined by a nurse or medical orderly and seen by a doctor within 24 hours of committal. That is, obviously, of considerable importance.
Is the Minister aware that a 25 year old man who hanged himself in Mountjoy Prison earlier this month was a severe alcoholic, that the staff in Mountjoy were unaware of that fact and that it might have been a contributory factor in the man's death? Does he believe that is a satisfactory situation and what steps is he taking to ensure that such essential information is available upon committal of any prisoner?
As I said previously, every prisoner is examined by the prison doctor within 24 hours of arrival in the prison. I replied on a previous occasion to questions in the House about the tragic case mentioned by the Deputy. The doctor examined the person in question. Unfortunately, it did not come to the doctor's notice that the person required further treatment by way of specialist advice or anything of that nature.
I have indicated that a review is now under way under Mr. John Alderman. There is another question on this matter on today's Order Paper which I hope to answer.
