Health in Prison
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.
Irish Medical Times: Key to prison mental healthcare
2nd July 2010
Dara Gantly, writing in the 'Irish Medical Times', highlights the issues of locating mentally ill offenders in Irish prisons, and reports on the successes of the diversion project run by Cloverhill Prison and the Central Mental Hospital (PICLS).
Medical Independent: Lights out on prison healthcare
10th June 2010
"With a rapidly-growing prison population, dwindling resources and dangerous, stressful conditions, doctors working in our prisons are firefighting in terms of inmate healthcare," writes Ailbhe Jordan.
Drug Treatment Court to be Expanded
24th May 2010
The numbers being processed through the Drug Treatment Court are to be expanded following a review which shows that the scheme has reduced reoffending rates.
Not a Marginal Issue: Mental Health and the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland
16th March 2010
A new report from the Criminal Justice Inspectorate of Northern Ireland follows the treatment of people with mental health problems through the criminal justice system, starting with the police, moving through prosecution and the courts and ending up with prisons and probation.
Nursing in the Irish Prison Service
5th February 2010
The first research study on prison nursing in Ireland, published by the Irish Prison Service.
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).
Project has diverted 91 mentally ill prisoners to community based treatment.
22nd October 2009
The IPRT welcomes findings from a new study carried out by staff of the Central Mental Health hospital. Results indicate that the Prison Inreach and Court Liaison Service based in Cloverhill prison have successfully diverted 91 mentally ill prisoners to community based treatment in 2008.
Launch of Counselling and Prison Based Drug Addiction Project
24th September 2009
A report on counselling and prison-based addiction treatment in Limerick prison was launched by Bedford Row Family Project, based in Limerick.
The Bradley Report (April 2009)
23rd September 2009
Evidence suggests that there are now more people with mental health problems in prison than ever before. While public protection remains the priority, there is a growing consensus that prison may not always be the right environment for those with severe mental illness (The Bradley Report 2009).
Irish Prison Service Health Care Standards
30th July 2009
The need for a broad based set of health care standards to guide the provision of health services to prisoners is identified in this report from the Irish Prison Service. (Updated July 2009.)