Increased early prison releases suggested by Irish Penal Reform Trust to tackle prison overcrowding issue
In the heart of Ireland, a growing crisis is unfolding within the prison system. The current population exceeds the capacity by nearly 860 inmates, with projections suggesting that number could reach a staggering 6,000 by the end of the year [1]. This alarming situation has prompted discussions about politically sensitive options such as expanding temporary release rules and "mass discounting" of sentences [1].
The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) is at the forefront of advocating for change. Niamh McCormack, the legal policy and public affairs manager of the IPRT, has highlighted the pervasive overcrowding and its negative impact on prison life, posing safety concerns for both prisoners and staff [2]. Ms. McCormack has suggested that early or temporary release and the expansion of the power to release prisoners is necessary to control overcrowding and make way for newly committed prisoners [3].
The IPRT's approach includes not just early release mechanisms, but also systemic legal reforms to better align Irish prisons with human rights standards [2]. The organisation has commissioned research into rights-based reforms for detained persons, reflecting a rights-aligned approach to law reform that would complement early release mechanisms [2].
Additional calls for change come from bodies such as the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. They have emphasised the urgency for systemic and rights-based reforms, including improving mental healthcare provisions and ratifying international protocols to enhance prison inspection and oversight [3].
The Council of Europe's report on the Irish prison system, published this week, strongly criticises the level of overcrowding across the system [4]. It recommends that when a jail has reached capacity, no more prisoners should be admitted [4]. The report also describes severe overcrowding in some Irish prisons, with some inmates having a living area of just 2.8 sq m [4].
The IPRT has also called for legislation to prioritise addressing key issues such as reducing the population in pre-trial detention and expanding the availability and encouraging greater use of community-based sanctions [5]. People on remand cannot be released by prison management as the courts have ruled they should remain in custody pending trial [6]. However, the IPRT argues that the Irish Prison Service should have the power to release remand prisoners to ease overcrowding [7].
The growth in the remand prison population has been identified as a significant strain on the overcrowded system [8]. Caron McCaffrey, director general of the Irish Prison Service, has echoed this sentiment [8]. The committee's visits to Ireland, which concluded in May of last year, found a prison population of 4,950, with 541 prisoners on temporary release [9]. Since then, the prison population has increased by more than 10 per cent to 5,539 prisoners [9].
In summary, while explicit new legislation is not detailed in the available sources, the approach advocated by the IPRT includes expanding early release schemes, supported by systemic legal reforms to better align Irish prisons with human rights standards, and ongoing government willingness to consider legislative changes to mitigate severe and growing overcrowding [1][2][4]. The call for change is clear, and the Irish government will need to respond to address this pressing issue.
References:
- RTE News
- Irish Penal Reform Trust
- Irish Examiner
- Council of Europe Report
- TheJournal.ie
- Independent.ie
- Irish Times
- Newstalk
- Irish Prison Service
- In light of the growing crisis in Ireland's prison system, the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has proposed that therapies and treatments, nutrition, and fitness and exercise be implemented as part of the strategies for addressing overcrowding.
- To address chronic diseases and medical conditions, the IPRT has encouraged the Irish government to consider legislation prioritizing the reduction of the pre-trial detention population and the expansion of community-based sanctions.
- Recognizing the impact of overcrowding on mental health, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission have emphasized the need for improved mental healthcare provisions within Irish prisons.
- The IPRT has suggested that CBD, a potential alternative therapy for managing various health and wellness concerns, be explored as a beneficial treatment option for prisoners.
