Round-up: IPRT Report Launch: From Punishment to Prevention: Poverty, Inequality and Pathways into the Irish Criminal Justice System

25th March 2026

The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) was proud to launch its new report,“From Punishment to Prevention: Poverty, Inequality and Pathways into the Irish Criminal Justice System”, on 25 March 2026 at Flux Studios, Dublin 2. The report explores how poverty, inequality, and community-level deprivation influence engagement with the criminal justice system in Ireland.

The research was led by Clare O’Connor, working with socially engaged artist Aaron Sunderland Carey and peer researcher Robert Cullen. Their work placed people with lived experience at the centre of the research, capturing the stories, insights, and creativity of those directly affected by social disadvantage and criminalisation. The report demonstrates that what is often seen as a “choice” to engage in criminal behaviour is frequently a survival tactic, shaped by structural inequalities, trauma, and underinvestment in communities.

Senator Lynn Ruane opened the proceedings and chaired the panel discussion, guiding the conversation and framing key issues. Saoirse Brady, IPRT Executive Director, outlined why this research is urgently needed and highlighted the necessity of shifting from punishment to prevention.

Clare O’Connor, Aaron Sunderland Carey, and Robert Cullen presented the report’s key findings, showing how poverty, housing instability, school exclusion and unmet mental health needs intersect to drive people into the criminal justice system.

The report also highlights:

• The gendered dynamics of poverty, with women often forced into survival crime and young men pushed into violent roles.
• The racial and ethnic inequalities, particularly the overrepresentation of Irish Travellers in poverty and in the criminal justice system.
• The long-term impact of childhood trauma and adverse experiences in shaping life outcomes.
• The societal and financial costs of imprisonment, with short sentences rarely facilitating meaningful change, while €100,000 per person is spent annually on incarceration that could otherwise support communities.

We were joined by an expert panel whose reflections reinforced the need to address structural inequalities and invest in prevention:

• Justice Paul Kelly, President of the District Court
• Dr Sharon Lambert, University College Cork
• Martin Quigley, Pobal
• Saoirse Brady, IPRT

Thanks also to Melanie Steinhardt (CFI), who reflected on the findings and their significance for guiding policy and practice to address social disadvantage and prevent criminalisation.

An art exhibition developed through the report’s community-based research provided a striking visual lens on the lived experiences of people affected by poverty, deprivation, and criminalisation. Created by participants alongside the research team, the pieces captured personal stories, survival strategies, and community realities, offering attendees a powerful, tangible insight into the report’s findings.

 

Among the report’s recommendations is a cross-government response to prioritise social investment over punishment. Key calls include:

• Investment in secure homes, healthcare, adequate income, alternative education supports, and youth work.
• Recognising socioeconomic status as a formal ground of discrimination in law to provide legal remedies and protect against class-based disadvantage.
• Redirecting justice resources to prevent criminalisation before it occurs rather than expanding the prison estate.

IPRT expresses its gratitude to all who contributed their expertise and creativity to this research, and especially to the research team, who handled the project with sensitivity and compassion.

Thanks also to Community Foundation Ireland (CFI) for their commitment to supporting causes that improve the lives of people and communities experiencing poverty, social injustice, and criminalisation.

Read the full report here.