2nd February 2011
The Irish Penal Reform Trust, Ireland’s leading penal reform campaign organisation, has today expressed concern at the soaring numbers continuing to be sentenced to imprisonment for failure to pay fines, despite the signing of the Fines Act 2010 into law on 2nd June 2010. The full commencement of this legislation, along with the passing of the Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) Bill 2011 at the earliest possible date by the next Government, are critical to addressing the chronic overcrowding and consequent impact on inhumane conditions in Irish prisons.
Responding to a Dáil Question on 1st February, 2011 Minister for Justice and Law Reform Brendan Smith gave the figure of 6,681 people imprisoned for non-payment of court ordered fines in 2010. (The exact figure is subject to change as statistics are finalised by the Irish Prison Service.)
Exactly eight months after the legislation was signed into law by the President, and almost 11 months after the Fines Bill was passed by the Dáil, the fines legislation – which was welcomed by all agencies as urgent and necessary – is still not yet fully commenced because the Courts Service ICT System is not ready to facilitate the payment of fines by instalment. In the meantime, thousands continue to be imprisoned. The figures also indicate that the principle of imprisonment as a last resort in the case of fine defaulters, included in the legislation, has not yet become reality.
While there is no final figure for the overall total number committed to prison last year, this figures suggests that as many as half of the total number of people who enter prison under sentence are there for fine default.
Although most fine defaulters are released after only a short time in prison, this redundant exercise is extremely costly and wasteful in terms of Courts, Gardaí and prison resources. Moreover, the futility of this practice is proven by the fact that 85% of those sentenced to imprisonment for fine default return to prison within 4 years, putting further future burden on a prison system already in crisis.
Speaking today, IPRT Executive Director Liam Herrick said:
“At a time of scarce resources, the continuing damaging and wasteful practice of imprisonment for fines should be a cause of national embarrassment. This rising rate of imprisonment is proof that our system of fines is not functioning; and while the enactment of legislation to address this is welcome, the failure to follow-up at the administrative level is costing significant amounts on an ongoing basis. As well as avoidable costs to prisons, courts and Gardaí, more importantly individuals are being committed to our overcrowded and unsafe prisons in cases where judges have already determined that prisons sentences are not appropriate.”
IPRT is now calling on all parties to:
For more information or media enquiries, or to arrange an interview with Liam Herrick, IPRT Executive Director, please contact:
Fíona Ní Chinnéide, Campaigns & Communications Officer, Irish Penal Reform Trust
T: + 353 1 874 1400 E: communications@iprt.ie
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
1. Imprisonment for fines 2007-2010
Year Fines Debts
2010* 6,681 5
2009 4,806 162
2008 2,520 255
2007 1,335 201
*2010 figures, provided by the Irish Prison Service, are provisional. (See Dáil Question, 1st Feb 2011: http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2011-02-01.272.0 )
2. Fines Act 2010
President McAleese signed the Fines Bill 2009 into law on 2nd June 2010. Section 15, which allows for the payment by instalment of a fine over a 12-month period (and, exceptionally, over a 2 year period) has not yet been commenced. The Courts Service ICT system has been cited as the reason. Section 14 of the Act has however been commenced with effect from 4 January, 2011. This requires the court to take into account the person’s financial circumstances before determining the amount of the fine, if any, to be imposed.
3. Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) Bill 2011
Minister Ahern published the Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) Bill 2011 on 12th January 2011. The proposed legislation will require judges to consider community service for offences which would normally receive a custodial sentence of 6 months or less. The Dept of Justice and Law Reform projected savings of €14m to €17m, not including the financial value of the work carried out in the community.
See IPRT Position Paper 8: Community Sanctions: http://www.iprt.ie/contents/1555
4. Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT)
IPRT is Ireland's leading non-governmental organisation campaigning for the rights of everyone in prison and the progressive reform of Irish penal policy, with prison as a last resort: www.iprt.ie
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.