27 Márta 2013, 11:06
A reductionist or ‘decarceration’ strategy policy for non-violent prisoners should be adopted by the Government to reduce prison population numbers by one-third over a 10 year period, a new report from the Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality.
Chairman of the Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality David Stanton TD said: “We are concerned about the significant increase over recent years in the numbers of prisoners in Ireland. We strongly recommend the adoption of a ‘decarceration strategy’; a declared intention by the Government to reduce the prison population by one-third over a ten-year period.”
The report was produced by Committee member Senator Ivana Bacik on behalf of the Justice Committee’s sub-committee on Penal Reform.
Among its other recommendations are:
• Commute prison sentences of less than six months;
• Increase standard remission from one-quarter to one-third and introduce an incentivised remission scheme of up to one half;
• Introduce legislation providing for structured release, temporary release, parole and community return;
• Address prison conditions and overcrowding; and increase the use of open prisons.
Senator Bacik said: “The Sub-Committee recommends that all sentences for under 6 months imprisonment imposed in respect of non-violent offences should be commuted and replaced with community service orders. We also recommend that standard remission should be increased from
one-quarter to one-third of all sentences over one month in length. An enhanced remission scheme of up to one-half should be made available on an incentivised basis for certain categories of prisoner, particularly those serving a prison sentence for the first time.”
The Sub-Committee endorses the Irish Penal Reform Trust recommendation for a single piece of legislation which would set out the basis for a structured release system; to include proposed changes to remission set out above, and to temporary release and parole.
Senator Bacik said: “Our report recommends that this legislation could also provide a statutory framework for an expanded community return programme. Legislation could also underpin the strategies currently used by groups working with offenders post-release, and with potential offenders.
The Sub-Committee was informed that structured release and incentivised remission programmes could not operate effectively within prisons unless prison conditions are improved and overcrowding tackled. The recommendations listed above would help to alleviate the overcrowding problem. In addition, actions should be taken to improve conditions within prisons generally. The proportion of open prisons should also be increased.”
A copy of the report will be sent to the Minister for Justice and Equality.
Deputy Stanton concluded: “The Joint Committee would like to thank Senator Bacik who put an enormous amount of time and personal effort into preparing the Rapporteur report. We would also like to acknowledge the contribution made by the members of the Sub-Committee throughout the period this issue was under consideration. The Joint Committee would like to express its gratitude to all the witnesses who came before the Sub-Committee to give evidence and to those who took the time to make written submissions. We gained valuable insights from the organisations and individuals involved.”
Read the report here: http://bit.ly/YCoIJp
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee Membership
Deputies: Niall Collins (FF); Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (FG); Alan Farrell (FG); Anne Ferris (LAB) [Vice-Chairman]; Seán Kenny (LAB); Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (SF); Finian McGrath (IND); John Paul Phelan (FG); David Stanton (FG) [Chairman]
Senators: Ivana Bacik (LAB); Paul Bradford (FG); Martin Conway (FG); Rónán Mullen (IND); Denis O’Donovan (FF); Katherine Zappone (IND)
Notes to the editor:
In October 2011, the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality agreed to establish a Sub-Committee from within its own Members to investigate the issue of Penal Reform. Senator Ivana Bacik, as a member of the Sub-Committee, agreed to undertake to produce a Rapporteur Report on behalf of the Sub-Committee. The Sub-Committee met in public on four occasions and in private on four occasions to consider the issue in detail, including written submissions received, and to hear from a wide selection of stakeholders.