Weapons amnesty for inmates reduces prison violence

A weapons amnesty for inmates in one of the country’s bigger prisons has been credited with a reduction in violence and attacks.

However, the Wheatfield Prison Visiting Committee warned that staff morale “does not seem to be good” and expressed concern at the effects of this on both officers and prisoners.

In its 2014 report, the committee said drug use caused “a lot of difficulties” in the west Dublin jail and said the visiting section appeared to be “the weakest area” in terms of security because it was understaffed.

And it said staff shortages had reversed progress which had been made in cutting down the numbers on 23-hour lock-up, by reducing it to 21 hours.

In relation to prison disorder, the inspectors said prisoner violence and attacks “are decreasing” within the institution.

“The authorities have implemented weapon amnesties to remove these articles from Wheatfield,” it said.

“The committee believes that it is this kind of progressive approach to prison violence that is providing the positive results within Wheatfield.”

The report added: “The institution’s staff and authorities take violence and attacks in Wheatfield very seriously and inmate safety is high on their list of priorities.”

It said that while each cell was designed for single occupancy, most cells had more than one prisoner.

However, it said that the new cells housing juveniles, transferred from St Patrick’s, were of “a very high standard and extremely well maintained”.

The inspectors recommended that all 17 and 18-year-olds should be assessed to identify issues, such as ADHD and dyslexia, and that they should be given courses in anger management. It said the education staff were hard working and dedicated and that the facility was a safe environment.

The report said the workshop training units were of “a highly professional level”.

It said there were three levels of incentivised regimes in the prison: Basic, standard, and enhanced. The enhanced regime is based in the new wing, where the conditions were superior. It said inmates felt “safer and more comfortable” there.

It said the supply of drugs was an “ongoing concern”, despite the security systems.

“Vulnerable prisoners and visitors can be bullied and threatend to bring in drugs,” the report said.

“With all the precautions put in place, drugs still enter the prison system. The visiting area seems to be the weakest area as it is often busy and understaffed.”

It said there were only two officers observing visits. It said the practice where children who were not related to a prisoner could visit “should be reviewed”.