Prison crisis 'completely out of control'

The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has expressed 'grave concern' over the increases in prison numbers revealed in the Irish Prison Service's annual report today.

Commenting on the publication of the IPS Annual Report 2009, the penal reform campaign organisation stressed that the figures, while alarming, are now seven months out of date and the most recent figures available from 2010 are considerably higher.

While the average number in custody in 2009 was 3,881, figures this year have consistently remained at above 4,200, reaching 4,491 on July 29, 2010.

The report reveals increases in persons going to prison for short sentences, with a 63% increase in the use of three-month sentences.

Short sentences of three months or less made up 53% (5,750) of all committals under sentence in 2009, 70% (7,655) of sentenced committals were for six months or less (compared with 62% in 2008.)

Commenting on the reduction of 16.7% in the cost of a prison space (from €92,717 in 2008 to €77,222 in 2009), IPRT executive director Liam Herrick stated: “In the context of this crisis, to point to a reduction in costs per prisoner is risible.

“Reductions in staff pay and worsening overcrowding are poor measures of success. The real story is that prisons are more overcrowded, more dangerous and services are being reduced.

“It should be emphasised that this crisis cannot be addressed by the Irish Prison Service – it can only be addressed by Government looking at the legislation it has introduced and the practice of the Courts, in particular at District Court level.

“Sending more persons to jail cannot be the barometer of success in our justice system. We need to ask whether imprisonment is the most effective way of preventing crime – and on that score all the evidence suggests that this is a hugely expensive and ineffective approach.”