Prisoners serving short sentences 'often have highest rates of reoffending'

According to the Irish Prison Service, there were 4,975 individuals in custody on September 30. Of this figure, just 1,642 (33%) were in custody for the first time. Picture: iStock

The use of community sanctions instead of short jail stays should be examined by the incoming Government as a way to prevent lower reoffending rates, a prison reform body has said.

The Irish Penal Reform Trust says that that people imprisoned for short sentences “often have the highest rates of reoffending following their release”.

The trust’s executive director, Saoirse Brady, said: “It is well-documented that short sentences offer limited scope to engage in some of the positive rehabilitative services available in prison such as addiction services, psychology, and training programmes. 

"On the other hand, community sanctions — which are sentences served in the community — often have lower reoffending rates, are less damaging than prison, are less costly, and provide benefits to the community.” 

Ms Brady also says that sentences of 12 months or less can have a “disproportionate impact” on an offender and their “path towards desistance, when contrasted against equivalent community-based sanctions”.

Richard O'Brien has almost 550 convictions. Picture: Hany Marzouk

She was speaking to the Irish Examiner during the investigation into the life and crimes of one of Ireland’s most prolific offenders, Richard O’Brien, of 14 Ardshanavooley, Killarney, Co Kerry, who has almost 550 convictions. 

Among his sentences was a five-day imprisonment imposed at Tralee District Court last year for intoxication in a public place.

Experiences with poverty

According to the Irish Prison Service, there were 4,975 individuals in custody on September 30. Of this figure, just 1,642 (33%) were in custody for the first time — meaning that two thirds of the prison population were repeat offenders.

Meanwhile, the recently formed Irish Penal Abolition Network says the 1,100 extra prison spaces promised by the outgoing Government exceeds the pace of population growth projected in the same time frame.

It argues that the focus needs to be on meeting the needs of people at community level to tackle causes for offending, adding: “Most prisoners come from a small number of very deprived neighbourhoods, have left school early, and lack basic literacy skills. Many are homeless prior to going into prison and will be released into homelessness. 

"The vast majority of prisoners also have addiction or mental health problems, and are likely to experience severe deterioration of these while in prison. They will then be released into under-resourced communities, and so the cycle continues.” 

Last month, the Irish Examiner revealed that more than 1,000 prisoners are being crammed into cells on bunk beds or mattresses on the floor because of overcrowding.