The Irish Prison Service published their annual report for 2014 on the 18th of May 2015. The report includes details such as the number of people committed into the prison system, number of overall committals handed down, statistics on the length of sentences, numbers committed for non-payment of fines and cost of detention per prisoner for the year 2014.
Positive changes:
- The overall average number of prisoners in custody continued to fall in 2014, with a decrease of 5.8% from 2013 numbers.
- In 2014 the target for participation in the Community Return programme was exceeded with 455 persons granted structured early release.
- Prison facilities have continued to be improved, with the end of "slopping out" in Mountjoy Prison and refurbishment of prison accommodation.
Areas of concern:
- The total number of committals to prison increased by 2.7% from 2013.
- There was an 8% increase on those committed for 3 months or less.
- The number of sentenced committals for road traffic offences rose from 3,759 in 2013, to 4,153 in 2014.
The Irish Prison Service Annual Report 2014 can be downloaded in full here.