Early Release considered to deal with Prison Crisis

nesf · 08-08-2011 04:31AM #1

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0808/1224302026247.html

MINISTER FOR Justice Alan Shatter is considering releasing long-term prisoners early as a way of controlling worsening prison overcrowding.

The radical proposal is being reviewed at a time when almost 750, mostly short-sentence, inmates are already afforded early release because there is no room for them in overcrowded jails.

A Government-appointed expert group last month warned that 30 per cent of the 4,500 prison population will be on early release, also called temporary release, by 2016 if nothing is done to solve overcrowding....

I'm unsure about the wisdom of this but I genuinely don't see any other way to deal with the overcrowding problem in the short term outside of the legalistion of drugs or some other radical alteration of our legal system.

Sunnyisland · 08-08-2011 07:42AM

There has to be some alternatives than just locking up people,For the most part it does not work with the same people & circumstances just going around in a big circle with the circle getting bigger & bigger,They could start with the people who are getting jailed for not paying fines,surly money can be stopped from what ever payments they are receiving,also people with mental and medical problems should not be there,Maybe for the young people some sort of bootcamp with Army discipline to get them out of the circle,Personally i cant see any thing happening at all as for the most part people in prisons don't effect the wider community at all,Its just another part of hidden Ireland. untill....

08-08-2011 07:45AM

You could have thrown in the community service part, I was ready to get worked up :pac:

Mr Shatter has asked senior officials to review a proposal that would mean inmates who are serving long sentences would be released early to free up space. “I have asked my officials to look at a scheme where suitable long-term prisoners might have the last period of their custodial sentence replaced by a form of community service,” he said.

Depends on how strict their criteria are for "suitable". Community service sounds like an ok idea instead of locking people up. Same for fines - do something with their income or have community service instead.

It's the people serving long sentences you'd be worried about though, if they actually manage to get a long sentence in this country it must have been something big??

Sunnyisland · 08-08-2011 10:11AM

Hope this is not going of topic, But it does show the unequal justice that happens in this country.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/not-one-whitecollar-criminal-ever-jailed-admits-watchdog-2246335.html

white collar crime, including misconduct in the banking and corporate sectors, posed as serious a threat to Irish society as 'ordinary' lawlessness, including organised crime.

Laminations · 08-08-2011 11:13AM

In the old days the prisoners would've built their new prison.

I'd have thought long term sentences are handed down for very serious offences? So if someone is deemed suitable for release before their sentence is done, doesn't that mean their sentence was too long to begin with? Or, I'd imagine, sentences are rightly determined not just by period expected for rehabilitation (which isnt encouraged in prison) but by things like justice for the family and punishment for the crime. Letting them out early makes a mockery of these latter two reasons for incarceration.

the_syco · 08-08-2011 02:42PM

How long is long? Murder and rape can get 12-30 years; are we to think that a rapist should be awarded community service as a "thank you" for having such a long prison sentence? Maybe they have such a long prison sentence as they're a danger to others?

meditraitor · 08-08-2011 03:42PM

I dont mean to be flippant about this issue as it is a serious one but the first thing I thought when I read this today was "YE and why not just let the scumbags away scott free" = no overcrowding problem

jimmycrackcorm · 08-08-2011 04:12PM

A home based tagging system might be suitable in some cases for early release candidates.

Liam Byrne · 08-08-2011 09:00PM

meditraitor wrote: »

I dont mean to be flippant about this issue as it is a serious one but the first thing I thought when I read this today was "YE and why not just let the scumbags away scott free" = no overcrowding problem

Exactly what crossed my mind.

Sure why not close up the prisons altogether and make the Gardaí redundant - that way we'll save a fortune! It's a crazy scenario, but it makes as much sense as this proposal. :rolleyes:

Prisons are overcrowded. And instead of looking at people who are in there over minor stuff, they propose to let out the worst of the criminals ?

Here's a novel idea : stop putting people in there for minor, "non-criminal" stuff; stuff like genuinely not being able to afford to pay a TV licence or whatever. Leave the serious thugs in there.

Here's another novel idea : let the overcrowding be part of the f**king deterrent. And sell off the TVs and snooker tables and serve weetabix and ham sandwiches instead of steak & chips.

If I didn't have more self-respect I would have knocked myself unconscious by repeatedly headbutting the wall.

Absolutely and utterly clueless proposal, and if I didn't know better I'd suggest that now - having seen the state of the finances left by FF - FG & Labour want out.....that's the only reason for proposing something like this.

Chuck Stone · 08-08-2011 09:11PM

Liam Byrne wrote: »

Sure why not close up the prisons altogether and make the Gardaí redundant - that way we'll save a fortune! It's a crazy scenario, but it makes as much sense as this proposal.

You could cut the bill hugely by decriminalising drug taking (to begin with).

A lot of the anti-drug work the Gardai do is utterly fruitless (other than creating work for the legal apparatus of the state).

Prisons spaces should be prioritised for people who commit violent crimes and rape and the like - real crimes with real victims.

Early Release considered to deal with Prison Crisis

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