Jailing juveniles without tackling ‘root causes’ won’t stop re-offending

THE detention of juveniles will continue to serve a limited purpose unless society addresses the factors which contribute to delinquency, the governor of Mountjoy prison has claimed.

John Lonergan said unless the educational, housing, poverty and addiction problems faced by juvenile offenders on the outside are tackled, detention in any type of facility will not prevent their re-offending.

“Buildings and facilities only form part of the solution and alone will not solve the problem - unless we tackle the root causes you are not going to change things,” he said.

The governor was commenting following a recommendation by the Inspector of Prisons, Dermot Kinlen, that St Patrick’s Institution - the State’s largest juvenile detention facility - be closed.

In his report, the inspector described the facility as a “warehouse” in which inmates “naturally deteriorate” and expressed concern at alleged levels of bullying and harassment.

“I fully support its closure as it is completely inadequate to provide rehabilitation for the juveniles,” he reported. “It is far too cramped to have worthwhile space for workshops, education, etc, but especially for recreation or open areas for outdoor games.”

Mr Lonergan accepted bullying is “very difficult to root out” in all prisons, but stressed that resolution lies in addressing the communication, psychological and educational shortfalls experienced by many inmates at a much earlier stage.

“No young boy should end up in detention unless it’s absolutely necessary - the very fact that they are imprisoned creates huge long-term problems for them,” he said.

St Patrick’s - which houses 180-200 youths at any time - is earmarked for relocation to a greenfield site under Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s plans for the prison service.