Trinity Professor calls for more community based sentences

More community based sentences should be used to deal with those convicted of minor offences.

That is the view of Trinity College Professor Paul O'Mahony. He says Ireland resorts to prison for such offences more than other Western European countries.

Dr O'Mahony, who is Head of the school of Occupational Therapy at Trinity, claims that measures such as the Connect Programme should be brought in. The programme helps prepare prisoners for employment. He feels it should be expanded, but says this will require a change in attitude by the authorities.

"We really need to put an end to the 'lock them up, throw away the key' attitude where they are left in a totally drug orientated environment of total idleness and locked up for 18 hours a day to fester and deteriorate further."