IPRT believes that responsibility for the provision of healthcare should be transferred from the IPS to the HSE. In addition to this, IPRT believes that those with mental illness should be diverted away from the criminal justice system and should be treated within a community setting, where possible.
This section includes posts on health in prison, including mental health and drug policy.
IPRT Executive Director Deirdre Malone speaks to Irish Legal News in response to an Irish Times article reporting on conditions for mentally ill prisoners. Read more
In our appearance before the Committee, IPRT made a number of recommendations, including investment and use of prevention and early intervention supports. Read more
'Mental Illness in Irish Prisoners: Psychiatric Morbidity in Sentenced, Remanded and Newly Committed Prisoners' (Kennedy et al., 2005) was the first systematic and representative survey of mental health in the Irish Prison population. Read more
An article in today's Irish Times on an innovative new Hepatitis C screening programme at Mountjoy Prison, whose success could be replicated elsewhere. Read more
The “Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery – a health led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025” strategy sets out the Government’s response to addressing the harm caused by substance misuse in society over the next eight years. Read more
IPRT welcomes the Review of Prison Healthcare cited by Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald on the publication of the report 'Healthcare in Irish Prisons' on 21st February 2017. Read more
Article by Deborah H. Drake and David Scott of The Open University, which states that for those living in extreme environments, such as prison, it becomes difficult to draw a line between mental well-being and diagnosable mental illnesses. Read more
A report which examines the direction to be taken to improve healthcare provision for those who have involvement in the Criminal Justice System in the UK. Read more
The Probation and Prison Services have published an independent review of the drug and alcohol treatment services available to offenders. The review was done by Anne Clarke and Anne Eustace and published on 20th December 2016. Read more
The Department of Justice & Equality has published the First Interim Report of the Interdepartmental Group to examine issues relating to people with mental illness who come in contact with the criminal justice system. Read more
