McDowell called upon by experts not to privatise prisons

PENAL reformers, criminologists and academics will this week call on Justice Minister Michael McDowell not to privatise prisons.

The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) is leading the campaign, backed by 15 experts in the area.

“We will be sending an open letter to the justice minister, signed by leading criminologists, lecturers and human rights activists, expressing our opposition to prison privatisation,” said IPRT executive director Rick Lines.