Ireland tops EU table for prisoner release

Ireland is second only to Montenegro for the rate at which it releases inmates from prison, according to research of more than 50 European countries.

A detailed study by the Council of Europe shows that, within the 27 member states of the EU, Ireland tops the table.

Ireland is ranked eighth highest for the rate at which it sends people to prison — and is fourth in the EU.

The research shows that the average inmate in Ireland is sentenced to three months, compared to an overall average of almost 10 months.

The Irish Penal Reform Trust said that by international standards, Ireland “imprisons a remarkable number of minor offenders every year” and that the high volumes of committal and releases are a “major administrative burden on an already stretched prison service”.

Last week, Justice Minister Alan Shatter criticised judges for sending too many people to prison on short sentences instead of handing out community service orders.

The Council of Europe’s penal statistics for 2011 also show that Ireland has a higher than average percentage of both juveniles and young people in jail and that it has far fewer white collar criminals in prison.

Key findings in the 165-page report include:

nIreland’s committal rate (imprisonment of offenders) is 380 per 100,000 people, compared to an average of 233;

nIreland’s release rate is 376 per 100,000, more than double the average of 165;

nIreland’s turnover rate (estimated number of inmates likely to be released during the year) stands at 81 per 100 prisoners, compared to an average of 51.

In addition, the average sentence in Irish prisons was three months in 2011, compared to 9.7 months on average.

The Council of Europe report provides detailed comparable figures across more than 50 European states, from Russia to Iceland.

Ireland is second only to Montenegro in the rate of releases from prison and the eighth highest for its committal rate — fourth in the EU, after Latvia, Sweden, and Scotland.

“Ireland continues to imprison a remarkable number of minor offenders every year,” said Liam Herrick, executive director of the penal reform trust.

“The overuse of imprisonment for less serious offences and for fines default, along with a high proportion of prisoners committed on remand, means that, proportionately, Ireland is sending more minor offenders into prison for short sentences than almost every other EU state,” he said.

“The high volume of committal and release for short sentences is a major administrative burden on an already stretched prison service. This high volume of committal and release also militates against effective risk management systems being put in place to prepare the release of vulnerable prisoners.”

The report shows 1.5% of the prison population is under the age of 18, compared to an average of 1%, and 7.7% are aged between 18 and 21 (average 5.5%).

The report said 8.7% of Irish inmates were serving sentences of 20 years to life (5.6% on average).

Only 1.2% of Irish inmates are serving sentences for economic or financial crimes (4.1% on average).