Government can address new surge in prison overcrowding without building more prisons

Why should prison overcrowding be of concern to the law-abiding citizenry of Ireland? The reason is because of the implications of prison overcrowding for public safety, in addition to its negative impact on human rights, writes Vivian Geiran.

Government must make a decision to ‘cap’ our prison population at a maximum of between 3,500 and 4,000.

According to recent official figures from the Irish Prison Service, prison overcrowding is re-emerging as a serious problem in this country. 

Last week, there were 4,609 people in custody in Irish prisons, compared to 4,001 on the same date in 2022. This represents an increase of 608 – or 15% - in the prison population in just one year and reflects an overcrowding rate across the prison estate right now of 105%.