Written answers

Wednesday, 1 December 2010

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Prisoner Releases

7:00 pm

Photo of Lucinda CreightonLucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the total prison population; the number of prisoners on temporary release; the number of prisoners on temporary release who cannot be accounted for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45636/10]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy that on 30 November, 2010, there were 4,440 prisoners in custody compared to a bed capacity of 4,430. This represents an occupancy level of 100%. On the same day the number of prisoners on temporary release was 656 which represents approximately 12.4% of the overall prison population for this day.

As the Deputy is aware there has been a consistent increase in the total prisoner population in Ireland over recent years, with dramatic increases in the number of sentenced prisoners, those being committed on remand and a trend towards longer sentences. This situation is particularly apparent over the past 12 months during which time the total number in custody has increased by 424. This represents a rise of over 10.5% in the numbers in custody. The Irish Prison Service must accept all prisoners committed by the Courts into its custody and does not have the option of refusing committals.

Temporary release arrangements, in accordance with the Criminal Justice Act 1960 as amended by the Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Act 2003, operate similar to a system of parole, which is a feature of prison systems worldwide. They are an important vehicle for re-integrating an offender into the community in a planned way. The generally accepted view is that the risk to the community is reduced by planned re-integration of offenders compared with their return to the community on the completion of their full sentence. The Irish Prison Service has also judiciously used temporary release a means of reducing numbers in times of serious overcrowding. Each case is examined on its own merits and the safety of the public is paramount when decisions are made. In addition, all releases are subject to conditions, which in the vast majority of cases include a requirement to report on a regular basis to the offender's Garda Station. Of course, any offender who breaches his or her conditions may be arrested and returned to prison immediately by the Gardaí.

I can advise the Deputy that the number of persons who having been granted temporary release, failed to return to prison and are now unlawfully at large is 518. The vast majority of the persons referred to are at large because of a technical breach, i.e., failing to sign on at the prison at an allotted time having been granted temporary release. Experience has shown that most offenders who go at large do not remain so for very long and it is not therefore surprising that the majority of persons on this list went at large in the not too distant past. The Gardaí are informed where prisoners are unlawfully at large and have the power to detain, arrest and return such persons to prison. I can also advise the Deputy that ongoing contact takes place between the Gardaí and the Prison Service in relation to this matter.

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