Compromise can prevent collision

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell’s plan to close two jails by January 1, privatise the role of prison escorts and turn open prisons into pre-release centres staffed by social workers, represents the most radical reform of the penal system in the history of the State.

By any assessment, the prison system is overmanned and so inefficient it is costing the State a fortune in overtime amounting to 64 million this year.

In reality, prison officers have brought the present situation on themselves by failing to agree on measures to reduce overtime.