Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 22 March 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality

Penal Reform: Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice

9:00 am

Photo of Frances BlackFrances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Carroll for the great work his organisation does. It works in many areas. As Mr. Carroll was speaking, I tried to get an understanding of his experience with adolescents. If one has an adolescent who is starting to play up and get into trouble, in his experience, what would be the proper intervention services to provide or means of preventing that young person from going down that route? One can almost see it happen sometimes, particularly if there are mental health issues such as depression, anxiety or addiction and there are so many reasons for it. He or she might come from a dysfunctional background. If there was a proper intervention service, does Mr. Carroll think that would prevent him or her from entering that cycle of being in and out of St. Patrick's Institution or prison?

Why does Mr. Carroll think the Training Unit in Mountjoy Prison did not work? What stopped it? Was it the culture of the Irish Prison Service? I imagine it has a very strong culture and that it might be the old model Mr. Carroll outlined. Is it hard to change that old model? How could we change it? Does he think it would be a good idea to get involved with the prison officers training unit, for example, and talk to prison officers about a newer, more therapeutic and compassionate model? Often people who are in and out of prison feel bad about themselves subconsciously; therefore, if somebody is constantly reminding them that they are bad, undoubtedly they will continue to be in and out of prison. It is just familiar to them.

Mr. Carroll mentioned Hydebank Wood Prison in the North and a prison in England. What was its name?

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