The Central Statistics Office published a study on 9th November 2016 which examines individuals who were released from the custody of the Irish Prison Service in the year 2010, and their subsequent levels of re-offending.
They also published a study which examines individuals who were placed on Probation Orders or Community Service Orders in the year 2010, and their subsequent levels of re-offending.
Fíona Ní Chinnéide, Acting Executive Director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust, is quoted in an Irish Examiner article 'Limit prison to only the most serious offences' on 10th November 2016 by Noel Baker as saying that too many people were sent to prison for minor offences and that, as institutions, jails did not always work in cutting re-offending.
“Prison is damaging in itself and that’s why it should be limited to the most serious offences".
She argued, in many cases, inmates were released back into a society with few or any of the issues that prompted their initial offending having been addressed.
She also said that schemes that work with young offenders should be extended up to the age of 24.
Read the article here.
IPRT's comments were also featured in other outlets:
10th November 2016
- Sunday Times (Irl.) Online: 'Prisoners need support to curb reoffending'
- Interview on WLRFM
- BreakingNews.ie: 'Limit prison to only most serious offences'
- Dublin News:'Can better support system help prisoners lead a crime-free life?'
- Interview with Midlands 103 (No podcast available)
11th November 2016
- Interview on KFM Radio
- BigNewsNetwork.com: 'Shocking statics reveal prisoners in Ireland reoffend after release'
15th November 2016
- Acting Executive Director Fíona Ní Chinnéide spoke to Newstalk's Henry McKean on Newstalk Drive. Listen here.
Other media coverage on the issue:
10th November 2016
- The Irish Times, Fiona Gartland: 'Almost half of prisoners released in 2010 re-offend'
- Western People: 'Figures reveal nearly half of prisoners re-offend within three years of release'
- The Journal.ie: '45% of Irish prisoners released have reoffended within three years'
- Midlands 103: John Lonergan interview. Click here.
- Leinster Express: '70% of burglars jailed in Portlaoise and other prisons break the law within three year'
- Irish Legal News: 'Nearly half of prisoners released in 2010 reoffended by 2013'