No places available in prisons

eroo

19/01/2009 - 17:35:57
All of Ireland’s prisons are currently full but 400 new places will be made available by mid-2009, it was claimed today.

However Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said he also wanted to focus more in future on other non-custodial sanctions such as youth diversion projects and electronic tagging.

The TD today launched the state’s first White Paper on Crime which he said would devise a long-term strategy that would consult with ordinary people as well as criminologists and social scientists.

The blueprint, which is due to be completed in 2011, will focus on law enforcement, crime prevention, early intervention measures, changing technologies, social trends and the role of victims and witnesses.

“We are in a situation where our prisons are full because of more gardaí, more judges, more courts,” Mr Ahern said.

“We do have a low level of prison population in this society so maybe it’s not just a matter of building more prisons and maybe its a matter of looking to other ways for offenders to pay their debt to society.”

He added: “However we have a duty to provide prison places. Over the next six months there will be about 400 new prison places in three different prisons.”

The proposed Thornton Hall super prison in north Co Dublin is at an advanced stage of the tender process and Mr Ahern said he wanted this progressed as soon as possible.

The minister also wants to expand community development and youth diversion projects across the country.

Ireland is currently advising other European countries on restorative justice schemes as well as measures such as electronic tagging and mobile phone blocking, according to the TD.

“In developing this the White Paper, I want the input of communities and ordinary people as well as criminologists and social scientists, and those at the frontline in the fight against crime.”

In coming months the Justice Department will be rolling out legislation banning handguns, creating new surveillance powers, establishing a DNA database and more measures to recognise and protect victims of crime.

“I don’t want to produce a sterile document of technical or specialist interest only. The value of this project will stand or fall on how it contributes to improved public safety,” added Mr Ahern of the White Paper.

400 places in Templemore..400 places available in prison..good to see them matching numbers!:rolleyes:

Geri Boyle

Excuse my skepticism but it will be interesting to hear what happens with Thornton Hall when more and more cutbacks are announced. I dont believe for a second that 400 extra prison spaces will become available in 09. The cost involved in incarcerating that many people is not something this goverment will embrace. We can live in hope but my take on that article is the goverment will put more emphasis on community work etc. as smoke screen for more lenient sentences thus freeing up prison spaces by default.

TheNog

Thornton Hall is a log way off. I would imagine a prison of that will take at least 3yrs to build but thats only if it all goes to plan.

The 400 places available this year will have some impact but very little in the gand scheme of things. We will not see prisoners actually serving their full sentences (including remission) or harsher sentences handed down by judges. This is what we really need to see.

metman

eroo wrote: »

Ireland is currently advising other European countries on restorative justice schemes as well as measures such as electronic tagging and mobile phone blocking, according to the TD.:

:rolleyes::D how very droll Minister.

What happened here when they ran out of prison places was they started using police cells as overflow cell space. It was great as I made plenty of money in overtime.......won't spend money to build prisons but will pay police overtime to use their cells....you couldn't make it up.

AlekSmart

Originally Posted by eroo View Post
Ireland is currently advising other European countries on restorative justice schemes as well as measures such as electronic tagging and mobile phone blocking, according to the TD.:

Crikey...."restorative justice"....that sounds good...is it a bit like those anti-cohlesterol drinks ? or is it more like Andrews Liver Salts,fizzes up and makes you belch ?

I DO so love a good scheme...don`t you ??

johnnyskeleton

TheNog wrote: »

Thornton Hall is a log way off. I would imagine a prison of that will take at least 3yrs to build but thats only if it all goes to plan.

The 400 places available this year will have some impact but very little in the gand scheme of things. We will not see prisoners actually serving their full sentences (including remission) or harsher sentences handed down by judges. This is what we really need to see.

Harsher sentences will mean more pressure on prison places surely? What's the point of having harsher sentences if there is nowhere to put people?

But of course, why deal with the problems head on when we can blame the nameless faceless judiciary.

johnnyskeleton

metman wrote: »

:rolleyes::D how very droll Minister.

What happened here when they ran out of prison places was they started using police cells as overflow cell space. It was great as I made plenty of money in overtime.......won't spend money to build prisons but will pay police overtime to use their cells....you couldn't make it up.

Where did that happen?