News & Press ReleasesNews & Press Releases
20th Anniversary of the Convention on Children's Rights 20th November 2009
The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) joins other organisations in the celebrations of the 20th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Read more
Report highlights concerns over care for asylum seeking children. 19th November 2009
A report by the Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan, highlights the inadequate service provision of care for asylum seeking children. Read more
Irish Times: Courts explore alternative to jail for mentally ill offenders 16th November 2009
In an article in today's Irish Times, Dr Conor O'Neill outlines the obstacles faced by people with mental illness in the criminal justice system, and the working of the Prison Inreach and Court Liaison Service (PICLS). Read more
Numbers jailed for not paying fines on course to double in 2009 9th November 2009
The number of people jailed for not paying fines reached 1,897 in the first 6 months of 2009. Read more
HSE to shut children’s secure unit. 5th November 2009
The Health Service Executive announced today that the Special Care Unit for children in Ballydowd, West Dublin will close, following an independent report from the Health Information and Quality Authority. Read more
IPRT welcomes report on Community Service Orders 19th October 2009
IPRT believes that a political decision must now be made to move towards the use of community sanctions as the default penal sanction for less serious offences; punishment by imprisonment should be reserved for the most serious of offences. Read more
Irish Times: Call for radical overhaul of the State's sentencing system 16th October 2009
Senator Ivana Bacik (Lab) on the urgent need for debate, and Charlie Flanagan (FG) on the need for sentencing reform. Read more
Number of prisoners in custody exceeds 4,000 15th October 2009
The Irish Penal Reform Trust raises alarm on the growing numbers of prisoners in custody. Read more
Incredible Years: early intervention project in Ballymun 5th October 2009
On Morning Ireland this morning, Emma O'Kelly reported on a new intervention programme designed to reduce delinquency in young people. Read more
Irish Times: 'Grave concern' over prison overcrowding 2nd October 2009
The IHRC has given its backing to claims by the head of Mountjoy Prison’s visiting committee, Stephen Langton, that prison overcrowding is at dangerous levels and could be relieved if the courts stopped sending petty criminals to jail. Read more