Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

116. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the measures she is taking to address criminal activity and behaviour in the 18 to 24 year age group; when she will publish the strategy for the Irish Prison Service for this category of offenders, given that it was due to be published by 31 December 2015; if she will extend Garda youth diversion projects to this age group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14772/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, a range of measures are in place to address adult offending behaviour generally, with the work of the Irish Prison Service and Probation Service playing a central role in this regard. The Joint Irish Prison Service and Probation Service Strategy, 2015-2017 sets out how the two services will work together with their statutory, voluntary and community sector partners to provide a multi-agency approach to offender management and rehabilitation from pre- to post-imprisonment.

Insofar as young adult offenders are concerned, the Probation Service has adopted a holistic response to a number of categories of young adult offenders, working closely with the Irish Prison Service. This includes some offenders aged up to and including 21 years who are subject to Probation Service supervision.

In working with these young adults the Probation Service:-

1. Completes pre-sanction reports to the Courts to assess the level of risk and need of offenders;

2. Provides probation supervision in the community to offenders to reduce their level of offending behaviour;

3. Funds, and works closely with, a variety of Community Based Organisations to address offenders' criminogenic factors to reduce offending behaviour.

The Deputy may also be familiar with the Report of the Penal Policy Review Group which was published in September 2014. The Review Group conducted a wide ranging strategic review of penal policy taking into account relevant work already completed in the jurisdiction and elsewhere, the rights of those convicted of crimes and the perspective of those who are victims of crime and the interests of society in general.

The Review Group’s Report contains 43 recommendations, one of which is that a programme similar to the Youth Diversion Programme be introduced for young people above the age of 18 years with an initial focus on 18 to 21 year olds. In this regard, the Review Group recommended that the relevant Departments and agencies, including An Garda Síochána, should immediately consult in relation to the most appropriate and effective means of targeting this group within the context of current and future resources. The Irish Youth Justice Service is currently engaged with An Garda Síochána in relation to the recommendation having regard to the experience of the existing Diversion Programme for persons under eighteen years of age. The Deputy might wish to note that the existing Diversion Programme is currently the subject of a comprehensive review by a group established by the Garda Commissioner. The outcome of this review will assist the Irish Youth Justice Service with its detailed consideration of the Penal Policy Review Group's recommendation.

I can also inform the Deputy that I have established a Penal Policy Implementation Oversight Group charged with overseeing work on the Penal Review Group recommendations, including the above. The Group is chaired by Dr. Mary Rogan, Associate Professor, School of Law, Trinity College who was a member of the Review Group. I expect to receive a report from this group shortly setting out the state of implementation, which I intend to publish, and will take stock at that point of the progress being made in examining all of the recommendations made by the Penal Policy Review Group.