Roundup: IPRT Report on Travellers in the Irish prison system

19th May 2014

IPRT launched a new report Travellers in the Irish Prison System: A qualitative Study on 19^th May 2014.

The report finds that Travellers are disproportionately represented in the Irish prison system, a trend found in other countries with an indigenous minority ethnic population.  Underlying factors include: poverty; social and educational disadvantage; racial discrimination; literacy problems; mental health problems; and drug and alcohol dependency. 

The Irish Times today highlighted IPRT recommendations of establishing effective methods of “ethnic monitoring” as well as the development of equality policies for minority groups in prison.  The report recommends the establishment of a dedicated strategy for Travellers to prevent social marginalization. IPRT welcomes the introduction of the ‘ethnic identifier’ to the prison system which identifies and takes into consideration ethnicity.

Read the report here: http://www.iprt.ie/files/IPRT_Travellers_Report_web.pdf

Read/hear more:

• ‘The Last Word’ on Today FM: Part 2 @21.43 minutes, available at http://www.todayfm.com/player/listen_back/7/11692/19th_May_2014_-_The_Last_Word_with_Matt_Cooper_Part_2
•  The Irish mirror: ‘Travellers ‘need mentoring’ in prison, report says’ http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/travellers-need-mentoring-prison-report-3570574 (19th May 2014)
•  The Irish Times: ‘Dedicated traveller strategy needed in prisons’ http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/dedicated-traveller-strategy-needed-in-prisons-1.1801634  (19^th May 2014)
• The Journal.ie: Travellers need a specific strategy to avoid recidivism’ http://www.thejournal.ie/travellers-need-a-specific-strategy-to-avoid-recidivism-1473494-May2014/ (19^th May 2014)
• The Irish Examiner: ‘Prison report uncovers Traveller discrimination’ http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/prison-report-uncovers-traveller-discrimination-269243.html (20th May 2014)