Denis Naughten
Ceist:
616. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice the number of convicted sex offenders who will be released in the next 12 months under the current remission system having completed their sentences; the number of these who have engaged in a treatment programme to date who are scheduled for release within 12 months and who she anticipates will have participated in such a programme prior to release; the nature of the programmes concerned; and the qualifications and training of those who provide such programmes. [24063/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Denis Naughten
Ceist:
617. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice the number of sex offenders released from prison in 2019 and to date in 2020; the number of these prisoners who participated in the Building Better Lives programme; the corresponding participation rates; her plans to implement the recommendation of her Department's 2009 review of the management of sex offenders, which recommends that sex offenders should not be eligible for early release if they fail to participate in such courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24064/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra
I propose to take Questions Nos. 616 and 617 together.
I wish to inform the Deputy that it has not been possible in the timeframe available to collate the information sought, as this entails a manual check of individual records. I will revert to the Deputy as soon as this information has been compiled.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
Statistical Data on those in custody serving a sentence for a sex offence and sex offender treatment participation rates.
A). The number of sex offenders released from prison in 2019 and from January 1st 2020 up to end of September 2020 inclusive:
- 149 sex offenders were released from prison in 2019
- 104 sex offenders were released from prison to end September 2020
B). The number of these prisoners that participated in the Building Better Lives programme;
- 21 sex offenders released in 2019 (14%) and eight sex offenders released to date in 2020 (8%) participated in the Building Better Lives Programme, either in-group or on a 1-1 basis (in part or completed).
It is important to note that 47 (32%) sex offenders released in 2019 prisoners and 62 (60%) released to date in 2020 prisoners were deemed not suitable for a number of reasons including;
- Denial of offence/appeal of conviction;
- complex medical conditions,
- Length of sentence or assessed as low risk.
In addition, you will wish to note that 22 sex offender released from prison in 2019 (15%) and 18 sex offenders released to date in 2020 (17%) declined to participate in this particular programme.
C). The number of convicted sex offenders that will be released in the next 12 months under the current remission system having completed their sentences
;
- 121 prisoners will be released in the next 12 months under the current remission system having completed their sentences.
D). The number of these that have engaged in a treatment programme to date that are scheduled for release within 12 months and who will have participated in such a programme prior to release;
- 9 sex offenders (7%) that are scheduled for release within 12 months have participated in a treatment programme to date. This includes Building Better Lives Programme, either on a 1-1 basis or in a group.
- 45 (37%) have been assessed to date as not suitable due to EDR, complex medical or mental health, or denial and appealing conviction. 30 sex offenders (25%) have declined to participate to date, however their interest in participation may change over the course of the year.
However, you may wish to note that there has been some disruption to screening and/or programme delivery in 2020 due to Covid-19, which means that this figure cannot be viewed as representative of engagement of sex offenders in a treatment programme in 2020/21.
E). The number of sex offenders that are scheduled for release within 12 months and who will have participated in such a programme prior to release;
Due to Covid-19, it is impossible to predict with any certainty how many sex offenders will have participated in a treatment programme prior to release. There has been disruption to programme delivery in 2020 and limitations to participation on the programme due to Covid-19 restrictions are continuing.
However, the IPS continues to identify ways to ensure sex offenders who wish to participate in treatment can be accommodated using a blended mixture of telephone, video and group intervention and 1-1 intervention
I think it is useful to note that in terms of available data on prison recidivism, published by the Central Statistics Office, shows that those released from prison having served a sentence for a sex offence have the lowest reoffending rate of all offence groups and of those who did reoffend, the further offence was not a sex offence.
You may also be interested to know that that the Building Better Lives Programme (BBL) for the treatment of sex offenders is one of a number of different interventions available to sex offenders while in custody. I am advised that the BBL is an intensive programme aimed at a certain cohort of sex offenders but is not suitable to a number of sex offenders who may deny their offence, have a short sentence or have complex mental health issues.
There are additional interventions outside of the BBL programme available for those committed for a sex offence, which also contribute to the reduction of risk including;
- Individual or group work focused on mental health, emotional regulation or other offence related needs by Psychology Service.
- Probations Service engagement including risk assessment and management
- Psychology Pathways to Change Group which focusses on risk factors
- Engagement with prison in-reach psychiatry for stabalisation and maintenance of mental health
- Education and work Training
- Integrated Sentence Management
- Engagement with re-settlement coordinators
I understand and I think it is important to note that a significant number of those released who do not participate in BBL are managed in this way and participation in these interventions contributes to a reduction in their risk of reoffending. Because many people convicted of sexual violence do not meet the criteria for the programme, there are various other pillars of intervention and management available. These include the following; Individual offence focused work by Psychology/Probation Service; Probation Service engagement including risk assessment and management where the individual has a Post Release Supervision Order; the Psychology ‘Pathways to Change’ group; Engagement with prison in-reach Psychiatry services for stabilisation and maintenance of mental health where a mental health diagnosis is made; Sex Offender Risk Assessment and Management (SORAM), which has been established to support the cooperation and coordination between key statutory organisations involved in managing the risk posed to the community by convicted sex offenders; and the Safer Lives Community Group Work Treatment Programme.
A significant number of those released who do not participate in Building Better Lives Programme, are managed through one or more of these programmes.
I understand that to improve the overall level of engagement of sex offenders in interventions, the Service is currently reviewing the model of delivery of treatment for sex offenders to provide for the proactive targeting of all sex offenders on committal. The review is also looking at the identification of the clinical needs and risk factors of sex offenders and enhanced sentence planning during early stages of their sentence to identify a pathway of interventions to address dynamic risk factors.
The IPS is consulting with appropriate stakeholders on a new approach to this issue including the Probation Service and intends to set out the revised model for the management of sex offenders in early 2021.
Finally, you may also be aware that I have committed to ensuring that information is available to victims about proposals for early release of sex offenders by the Parole Board and that the victim’s voice will be heard. This is one of the actions arising from Supporting A Victim’s Journey: A Plan to Help Victims and Vulnerable Witnesses in Sexual Violence Cases which sets out my implementation plan in relation to the O’Malley Report that I published in August.
The detailed arrangements in that regard are being developed by my Department and the IPS and I will make a further announcement in due course, on how this service can be accessed by victims.
