2nd March 2023
The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) launched a new scoping study on maternal imprisonment in Ireland on Thursday 2 March 2023. Maternal Imprisonment in Ireland: A Scoping Study was supported by Katherine Howard Foundation and St. Stephen's Green Trust.
The report examines the numbers and experiences of mothers imprisoned in Ireland, and of their children. The report makes recommendation for actions that would reduce the harm caused to these children and families, and particularly for reducing female imprisonment. The need to consider the impact on children when sentencing mothers, and particularly consider non-custodial measures when sentencing mothers, were named in the report as part of the 29 recommendations.
The report further makes clear that various government actors, including the Department of Justice, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and the Irish Prison Service, have a key role to play in reducing the harm caused to children of sentenced mothers. Actions such as conducting more relevant research in the area, collecting more data and raising awareness of the issues were attributed to them.
Initial actions that have a key role to play in reducing the harm caused to children of sentenced mothers are outlined in 29 recommendations made in the study.
Read the report in full here.
This project is supported by Katharine Howard Foundation and St. Stephen's Green Trust.
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.