Call to cut jail time to free up prisons

Prisoners jailed for less than five years should be freed after serving half their sentence, say radical proposals to tackle overcrowding and cut time spent behind bars.

Drug traffickers, gunmen, and killers of gardaí will also be allowed to apply for temporary release under the recommendations from the Irish Penal Reform Trust.

Under its proposals, sex offenders should be included in supervised early release schemes.

The lobby group is also asking the Government to consider making those guilty of the murder of gardaí, prison staff, and politicians — who currently serve a minimum period of 40 years — eligible for parole along with all serious offenders.

The proposals are contained in an IPRT document aimed at reforming remission, temporary release, and parole systems.

The group said offenders serving less than five years in prison should be allowed out after serving half their sentence, and that inmates serving longer sentences should get a one-third remission to their sentences.

Currently, prisoners are entitled to one-quarter remission. The group said Irish remission rates were low by global standards.

Key recommendations in the report include:

* Double remission rates from 25% to 50% for inmates serving a sentence under five years;

* 33% remission for longer sentences, with an enhanced 50% remission for those who take part in rehabilitation services;

* Expand and reform the temporary release and the earned early release systems;

* Set up an independent parole board, removing the Government from the decision-making process.

The document said the minister for justice should use the power of pardon to reduce prison numbers within safe custody limits recommended by the inspector of prisons. It said fine defaulters could be given an amnesty.

“At present, the biggest obstacle to the prison system operating effectively is the chronic overcrowding throughout the system,” said IPRT director Liam Herrick.

“At the same time, for many prisoners, there are no clear guidelines as to what they must do within prison to address their offending in order to move towards release,” he said.

“IPRT believes that our current systems of remission, temporary release and parole afford too much discretion to government and should be replaced by more open and transparent systems of release, in line with the principles of due process and fairness.

“We also believe a more structured and fair system will help identify an increased number of prisoners who can be safely released back into the community.

“Reform along the lines will create a more incentive-driven system, reducing overcrowding while also improving community safety.”

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesman is to draw up legislation to tackle inconsistency in sentencing.

Niall Collins said his proposals would call on the Oireachtas to set up a sentencing council similar to that in the UK.

He said public concern was not just confined to sentences in sexual assault cases, but across the spectrum of serious crime.