Crime and class Who really ends up behind bars in Ireland?
4th April 2026
In this op-ed, Senator Lynn Ruane draws on IPRT’s From Punishment to Prevention report to highlight the strong links between poverty, inequality and imprisonment. She emphasises how people from under-resourced communities are disproportionately affected by the criminal justice system. The piece argues that structural disadvantage — including housing, education and health inequalities — drives pathways into prison. Ruane calls for greater focus on prevention and addressing the root causes of crime.
Read the full article here.
