A return to penal populism will fail Ireland 

Criminal justice policy should be smart and evidence-based to make society safer

Research from around the world shows mandatory minimum sentences fail to reduce crime, while causing significant problems in courts and prisons.

One of the most serious issues facing the new Taoiseach is the virulent populism rearing its head across national politics in Europe and beyond. This is a real threat, and Ireland has not proved immune to it thus far. Yet we would caution populism comes in many guises, including that of penal populism. 

This approach aims to appeal to a seemingly common-sense desire for ‘more punishment’, in pursuit of electoral gain. Unfortunately, it flies in the face of decades of criminological research exploring how best to prevent and reduce crime.