Seanad debates
Wednesday, 8 October 2003
Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Second Stage.
Senator Walsh made an important point that we must try to ascertain if prisoners will address what they have done to their victims. This is the basis of restorative justice, which, as the Senator will be aware, has been extremely successful in the United States in particular where it was first introduced. It has been very useful in those cases here where prisoners have been made address exactly what they did and what it did to their victims. The victim must also agree to co-operate with this process. It is an area we should try to expand within the prisons because it is important for offenders to face up to what they did and, if possible, to try to show some recompense, but they at least should realise they did some wrong and caused great harm. I support Senator Terry and Senator Walsh on this point.
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