Irish Examiner: 'Essential' that sex offenders can avail of interventions in prison
29th July 2024
On 29 July 2024, Cormac O'Keefee of the Irish Examiner wrote psychological interventions available for people in prison.
The specialist therapeutic programme for sex offenders in prisons — Building Better Lives — has undergone an independent review.
Saoirse Brady, Executive Director of Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) said the review of the Building Better Lives programme, conducted by Dr Liam Marshall of the Department of Psychiatry at University of Toronto, had been submitted to the Irish Prison Service earlier this year.
“Minister McEntee has highlighted a number of changes that will be made to reduce existing barriers to treatment for people convicted of sex offences and, recently, planned recruitment to support implementation,” said IPRT executive director Saoirse Brady.
“This is welcome, but again it may take some time to see the impact of these changes.”
Saoirse expressed concern at the repurposing of the Progression Unit, which she said will not only have an impact on the people who were there but could have ramifications for engagement with rehabilitative services across all prisons.
Related items:
- Council of Europe Human Rights Watchdog Calls for Urgent Action Amid Concerns of Inhuman and Degrading Treatment in Irish Prisons - IPRT
- Prison Visiting Committee Annual Reports 2023
- Liberties EU Rule of Law Report 2025
- Irish Times: Overcrowded prisons and breaches of human rights
- Office of the Inspector of Prisons Annual Report 2023 published
