As part of the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) Strategic Plan 2023-2026, one of our main goals is to campaign for a progressive criminal justice system that upholds human rights. Engagement with the media plays a large part in that as we discuss our evidence-based research, advocate for people in prison, and work to change attitudes and challenge misconceptions about people in the criminal justice system.
Below you will see a list of most of IPRT's media features including recordings of radio discussions, links to TV appearances, and access to written articles and opinion pieces. You can also listen back to long-form recorded discussions with podcast hosts on our Podcast webpage.
10th September 2013
Prisoner numbers have dropped below 4,000 for the first time since the end of 2009, with 3,983 people in custody on 9th Sept 2013 and 645 on temporary release.
6th August 2013
Media coverage of issues and concerns around 23-hour lock up and restrictive regimes, brought into focus by the 2013 IPRT Annual Lecture.
4th July 2013
A roundup of press releases, media reactions and discussions following the announcement on 3rd July 2013 by the Minister for Justice that St Patrick's Institution is to be closed within 6 months.
23rd June 2013
Ombudsman for Children Emily Logan, IMPACT Spokesperson Catherine Keogh, and Liam Herrick of the Irish Penal Reform Trust comment on the detention of young offenders at Oberstown.
14th June 2013
The 'Irish Examiner' and 'The Cork News' report on plans for the building of a replacement prison in Cork, which will see capacity increased through planned cell-sharing.
6th June 2013
A roundup of media reactions and discussions following further delays in the publication of the report into the killing of Gary Douch in prison custody
24th May 2013
A roundup of media reactions and discussions following publication on the 8th May 2013 of the Irish Prison Service and Probation Service Annual Reports for 2012 and their Joint Strategic Plan for 2013-2015.
8th May 2013
A Council of Europe Penal Statistics Survey (SPACE I) of over 50 countries reveals Ireland to have one of the highest committal and release rates in Europe, reports Cormac O’Keeffe in the Irish Examiner.
28th March 2013
Media coverage of the 'Report on Penal Reform' published by the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality on 27th March 2013. IPRT welcomed the report, and called for Government action on all recommendations.
21st January 2013
A series of articles on the problems and progress within Ireland's jails.
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.