Substance abuse link to most parole cases

Almost three-quarters of cases involving serious offenders looking to be released from prison are related to drink and drugs.

And almost half of the offenders claimed to have been abused as a child.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said the data on substance abuse was further evidence of the “devastating impact” of alcohol and illegal drugs.

Launching the 2013 annual report of the Parole Board, the minister pointed out the average length of time before prisoners were granted supervised temporary release had jumped from just over seven and a half years between 1975 and 1984, to 18 years between 2005 and 2013.

She said she was struck by statistics showing the number of cases reviewed by the Parole Board from 2011 to 2013 that were linked to drink and drugs.

“This is yet further evidence, if any was ever needed, of the devastating impact of the misuse and abuse of alcohol and drugs,” said Ms Fitzgerald.

She said that, when she was children’s minister, she saw the “harsh reality” of the influence of alcohol and drugs in child abuse cases and neglect cases.

“Now, as minister for justice, I am seeing similar trends all over again in terms of the influence on alcohol and drugs on criminal offending.”

She was also concerned at the difficulties experienced by some inmates in accessing therapeutic services and having no therapeutic work undertaken before their first review.

The report said 189 out of the 255 (74%) offenders reviewed were either addicted to drugs or under the effects of narcotics at the time of the crime. In addition, some 121 of the 255 offenders (47%), cited childhood abuse to therapists.

Offenders can seek supervised release after seven years. Ms Fitzgerald said the average length of time served by these offenders had risen to almost 18 years now, which she said was “different” from what many members of the public would think.

Asked about calls from Advocates for Victims of Homicide for minimum sentencing tariffs to be introduced for murder — ranging from 15 years to whole-life orders — Ms Fitzgerald said a major report on penal policy would be published next week.

She said this issue would be “addressed” in the report, but declined to comment any further. The Law Reform Commission has also made recommendations similar to those of Advic.

Ms Fitzgerald said parole had been “very successful” in the vast majority of cases where people convicted of murder are released on licence.

Parole Board chairman John Costello said 76 former life sentence prisoners back in the community had not re-offended, which, he said, showed the “system of parole works”. He said with the support of the Probation Service, these offenders can become “functioning members of society”, which, he said, benefits everyone.