Ireland has a long history of poor responses to offending behaviour by children. A core strand to IPRT's work since its establishment in 1994 has been the promotion of a more effective youth justice system, with emphasis on non-custodial alternatives, diversion, early intervention and prevention strategies and programmes. Central to our work was ending the practice of detaining children in adult prisons, which was in breach of international human rights standards and a serious stain on Ireland's human rights record.
International human rights standards, and in particular the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, are clear that custody for children should only be used as a last resort and for the minimum required period of time. All efforts should be made to apply alternatives to detention to ensure that such a measure is only used in exceptional circumstances.
In Ireland, the Children Act 2001 recognizes the principle of detention as a last resort. The Act prohibits the imprisonment of children and the Criminal Justice Act 2006 makes provision for all children less than 18 years of age to be detained in Children Detention Schools. The detention school model is focused on a model of care, education, health and programmes that address offending, with improved outcomes for the young people, their communities and all of society. The Irish Youth Justice Service is responsible for the Children Detention Schools, within the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
Following years of sustained advocacy by IPRT, along with many national and international bodies, in 2012 the detention of boys aged under 17 at St Patrick's Institution ended. In March 2017, a Ministerial Order ended the sentencing of children aged under 18 to adult prison in Ireland, and in April 2017, St. Patrick’s Institution was finally closed. Since September 2017 boys aged under 18 are no longer detained in the adult prison system.
IPRT continues to work towards progressive change in youth justice policies and practice, as well as engaging with wider policy and practice issues relating to youth justice, such as the provision of alternatives to detention, diversion and early intervention programmes.
15th September 2011
The Irish Penal Reform Trust has today called on Government to act on strong recommendations made by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, concerning children held in St. Patrick's Institution.
14th September 2011
The Howard League for Penal Reform has published a new report which focuses on life after young people leave custody and come under the supervision of youth offending teams.
13th September 2011
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Mr. Alan Shatter, T.D., today published the 2010 Annual Report of the Committee Appointed to Monitor the Effectiveness of the Diversion Programme, which highlighted that fewer children were diverted to the programme last year.
18th August 2011
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) carried out detailed follow up inspections of each of the children detention schools in 2011.
13th July 2011
The Prison Reform Trust in the UK has published a report exploring the reductions in child imprisonment from 2008-2011. The number of children imprisoned in the period reduced by a third, from 3,000 to 2,000.
5th July 2011
A co-ordinated programme between community, police and other groups in Glasgow has significantly reduced gang violence according to a new report released by the Violence Reduction Unity in the UK.
30th June 2011
The Scottish Government published this Guidance for local authorities, community planning partnerships and service providers, for managing young people who offend (especially in relation to high risk and transitions).
21st June 2011
A new review from the Inspectorate of Prisons in the UK has found that in a small sample of young offenders, one in six will return to prison in the future.
12th May 2011
'Into the Breach', a new report released by the Prison Reform Trust summarises the findings of a project concerning children under the age of 18 who are in breach of their anti-social behaviour order or criminal justice order.
29th April 2011
A new report published by the Department for Justice and Equality highlights young people's views on crime and how it can be dealt with.
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.