Prison isn’t always the appropriate sentence, experts say

THE range and variety of offences covered under child pornography legislation means that non-custodial sentences are often “the most appropriate”, a criminologist said yesterday.

But Ian O’Donnell, of UCD’s Institute of Criminology, said more information is needed about the exact types of sentences being handed down in the courts to protect against aberrations in the system.

“Child pornography offences cover a variety of harms,” Dr O’Donnell said.