In the news: IPRT submission on spent convictions
9th November 2020
On 6th November 2020, IPRT made a detailed submission to the Department of Justice open consultation on spent convictions.
IPRT has been campaigning for over 12 years for fair access to a regime which allows old convictions to become spent after a law-abiding period. As part of this campaigning work, we have published briefings and survey results, we have presented regular submissions to Government, we emailed TDs and Senators in advance of Oireachtas debates, we held public events, we advocated directly to the Minister for Justice and senior officials in the Department of Justice. We have also been very vocal in the media for over a decade on the necessary role broad spent convictions regimes play in supporting rehabilitation and reintegration. This submission was another opportunity for us to not only reach those responsible for legislative and policy change, but to reach the general public and communities across Ireland impacted by the current regime. Some of the stories IPRT was featured in in the media are detailed below.
Media:
- Irish Times: Discrimination because of criminal past should end, says rights body (also available in print)
- Irish Examiner: IHREC: 'No limitation' on number of convictions a person has to be eligible to have records set aside
- RTÉ: Human rights' groups seek more support for offenders
- Law Society Gazette: Rehabilitated offenders need 'fresh start'
Related items:
- Report launch: Boxed Out: Higher Education, Criminal Convictions, and Perceptions of Risk
- KCLRFM Guest Editor: Saoirse Brady - Penal Reform in discussion with Experts with Experience
- Round-up: The Criminal Justice System North and South – Current Challenges and Opportunities for Change
- Newstalk: Prisoners to be trained retrofit homes under new pilot project
- Irish Examiner: Debt to society can be a long-term payment plan
