Irish Penal Reform Trust

IPRT in the News

Irish Times: ‘Not my crime, but still my time’: The families serving jail terms outside for loved ones

6th February 2024

IPRT comments on the impact imprisonment has on children and families of people in prison, details about prison visits and other issues arising from overcrowding in prison.

Law Society Gazette: Dóchas report ‘leaves questions unanswered’

29th January 2024

The Law Society Gazette reported on IPRT's response to the publication by the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee of the Office of the Inspector of Prisons (OIP) Inspection Report Oversight Monitoring Visit During COVID-19 Pandemic Mountjoy Female Prison (Dóchas Centre) 2020 and supporting Action Plan.

RTÉ: Irish Penal Reform Trust calls for Dóchas Centre reports to be published

26th January 2024

Almost four years after the Office of Inspector of Prisons conducted its first Covid-19 inspection in the Dóchas Centre, IPRT welcomes that Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, has published the report (albeit redacted in parts) but calls for the release of subsequent investigation reports.

Irish Examiner: Mounting pressures cramming already full Irish prisons

17th January 2024

Cormac O'Keeffe of the Irish Examiner reported on the monthly figures of people in prison released by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) and compared them to previous statistics. IPRT responds to the numbers and calls for action to deliver existing commitments.

Irish Examiner: Record prison overcrowding 'set to worsen'

17th January 2024

IPRT response to an analysis of data conducted by the Irish Examiner, showing the mounting pressures on the prison system.

Irish Times podcast: Does Ireland need more prison cells or fewer prisoners?

9th January 2024

IPRT speaks to Sorcha Pollak of the Irish Times In The News podcast alongside Irish Times Crime and Security Editor Conor Lally about reducing the number of people sent to prison.

Red FM: Irish Penal Reform Trust says prison conditions are going backwards

4th January 2024

IPRT responds to the latest overcrowding figures at Cork prison.

Irish Examiner: Prison officer shortages impacts inmate education programmes

4th December 2023

IPRT Executive Director, Saoirse Brady, responds to the number of days educational programmes were prevented from happening due to staff shortages.

Law Society Gazette: IPRT welcomes IPS focus on overcrowding

30th November 2023

Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) welcomed many elements of two strategy documents published by the Irish Prison Service but warned, however, that broader efforts across the criminal-justice system must focus on reducing the number of people sent to prison in the first place.

PILA: Ten Years after the Report on Penal Reform by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice – where are we now? - IPRT

29th November 2023

Dr Helen Kehoe, IPRT Legal and Public Affairs Manager, writes a guest piece for the Public Interest Law Alliance (PILA), reflecting on where we are ten years after the Report on Penal Reform by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice following the All-Party Oireachtas Group for Penal Reform event.

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