Number of inmates serving time for sexual offences surged by nearly 70% in five years

As of last Thursday, there were 5,054 inmates crammed into cells for a maximum of 4,514 people. Picture: Dan Linehan

The number of people serving prison sentences for sexual violence and assaults has surged by nearly 70% over the last five years, according to an Irish Examiner analysis.

This jump – accompanied by an increase in people jailed for drug offences and a smaller rise in homicide and burglary sentences – has shifted the makeup of the prison population towards inmates on longer sentences.

Along with a significant rise in people held on remand – i.e. in custody pending trial – and the absence of sufficient additional prison capacity, the prison system is now battling a record overcrowding crisis.

As of last Thursday, there were 5,054 inmates crammed into cells for a maximum of 4,514 people.

An analysis of the ‘offence profile’ of sentenced prisoners shows a marked upsurge in terms of sexual assaults, including rape, and physical assaults:

• *On 30 June 2024, 706 people were serving sentences for sex offences, compared to 424 on 30 June 2019, a rise of 67%;
• *693 people were serving sentences for assault (including threats/attempted murder as well as assaults), compared to 412, a rise of 68% 

These increases are far greater than for any other offence, with the next biggest increase for drug dealing/trafficking (+23%).

Other crimes showing an increase, albeit much smaller, over the last five years are burglary (+9%), homicide (+5%) and theft (+5%).

The huge increase in sex offenders places additional logistical burdens on prisons in that, generally, they have to be kept separate from the main prison population.

Last March, the Irish Prison Service made the decision to start putting sex offenders into the Progression Unit in the Mountjoy complex.

The overcrowding crisis means that the main prison for sex offenders – the Midlands Prison – along with the smaller Arbour Hill are overflowing.

With a capacity of 206, the Progression Unit had been used for prisoners on enhanced regimes because of good behaviour and engagement with services.

It now has 67 sex offenders in it – meaning an equivalent number have been transferred out to other jails. More sex offenders are due to be sent there.

The changes in the offence profile of prisoners has had a knock-on impact on the typical length of sentences prisoners are serving.

An analysis shows that, in relation to male inmates:

• 874 men were serving a sentence of between three and five years on 30 June 2024, compared to 617 on 30 June 2019 (+42%);
• 902 men were serving a term between five and ten years, compared to 669 (+35%);
• 319 men were serving a sentence of more than 10 years, compared to 238 (+34%);
• 368 men were serving a life sentence, compared to 349 (+5%) 

Among females, though numbers are far smaller, there has been a 129% jump for those sentenced between one and three years and a 28% rise in those serving between 3 and 10 years.

The Prison Officers’ Association said an incident in Wheatfield Prison on Friday highlighted the security risks posed by overcrowding.

The trouble appeared to stem from access to the tuck shop - which the POA has previously warned is a key cause of tension if there are too many prisoners.

An estimated 22 inmates refused to return to their cells and all available staff, up to 50 officers, were deployed in riot gear. It took over three hours to resolve, without injury.

“The POA is clearly linking this incident to the current chronic overcrowding situation,” said assistant general secretary Gabriel Keaveny.