Drug dealers, burglars out on early release
Nearly 40% of those benefiting from the community return programme are serving sentences of between five and eight years.
Prison authorities said the scheme was “operating very well” with figures indicating that 85% of participants had completed the programme successfully.
Information supplied to the Irish Examiner shows 344 inmates have taken part in the scheme since it was piloted in Oct 2011 up until Dec 10 last.
Of these:
* 202 inmates have “successfully completed” the programme;
* 35 (15%) have been returned to prison for non-compliance;
* Eight were unable to complete the programme due to medical reasons;
* 99 convicts are currently participating in the scheme.
Under the Irish Prison Service Strategic Plan 2012-2015, 1,200 inmates are due to be released under the initiative. A Prison Service spokesman said 300 prisoners would take part in the scheme each year over the next two years.
The spokesman said the scheme was an incentivised temporary release for offenders who posed “no threat to the community” and who engaged in community work, supervised by the Probation Service.
“The type of work involved is intended to assist the community and the scheme is involved with a large number of charitable organisations and local community groups,” said the spokesman.
“The work takes place in a supervised group setting and involves practical tasks such as painting, gardening or graffiti removal.”
It applies to people serving sentences of between one and eight years. Those admitted are given reviewable temporary release after serving at least half of their sentence.
Of the 99 inmates currently participating:
* 56 are serving sentences for drug offences;
* 12 people are doing time for assault;
* eight are serving sentences for burglary and five for robbery;
* 18 are doing time for other offences including handling stolen property, violent disorder, theft, and public order offences.
A breakdown of the length of sentences shows: neight are serving sentences between seven and eight years;
* six between six and seven years;
* 22 between five and six years;
* 16 between four and five years;
* 27 between three and four years;
* nine between two and three years;
* 11 between one and two years.
Of the 344 participants: 82 are from Shelton Abbey; 50 from Mountjoy; 42 from the Training Unit; 34 from Midlands; and 33 from Loughan House in Cavan.
The Prison Service spokesman said the scheme was “operating very well from both a compliance and reintegration viewpoint”.
