Nora Owen
Ceist:915 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason a person (details supplied) who was sentenced to three months, spent only one week in prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21982/01]
Written Answers. - Prison Sentences.
The person referred to was committed to Mountjoy Prison on 25 June 2001 serving a three month sentence for assault and road traffic offences. He was subsequently transferred to Loughan House Open Centre on the 26 June 2001 and, with enhanced remission, he was due for release on 9 August 2001. He was released on weekly renewable temporary release on 7 July 2001.
It is a long standing policy not to comment in detail on the sentence management of any individual prisoner and I do not propose to make an exception in this case. I can, however, assure the Deputy that, before granting temporary release, careful consideration is given to a number of factors including the nature and seriousness of the offence, previous record, behaviour in custody, length of sentence served and any compassionate grounds which merit special consideration. The overriding concern when decisions are made is the safety of the public.
It should also be noted that, as a direct consequence of the ongoing prison building programme, there has been a significant reduction in the proportion on temporary release of the total number of persons serving sentences. Every effort is made, where possible, to plan structured temporary releases for re-socialisation purposes and to allow the re-integration of offenders into the community.