http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0807/prison-2011.html
A total of 17,318 people were committed to prison last year, the latest report from the Irish Prison Service shows.This is a 0.8% increase on the total in 2010.
The average cost of a prison space for 2011 was €65,359.
On any given day, there are around 4,500 people in custody across the State.
Some 423 committals in 2011 related to immigration issues, a decrease of 13.9% on 2010. That followed a dramatic drop of 31.% in this category in the previous year.
So there are more people being locked up yet crime is still rampant in our country,Is it the wrong people getting locked up ? or what more can be done ?
My opinion would be to have more of Community Service for the lesser crimes,example, Eight hours of work equal one day of jail. The offenders are interviewed to determine their skills and availability, then matched with jobs at local council or non profit agencies. The probation department handles enforcement and eventual referral of failed cases hack to the court for resentencing.Or something on those lines,€65,359 for one year in prison could be put to better use.