4th May 2023
On 3 May 2023, Acting Exective Director of IPRT, Molly Joyce, featured on Virgin Media TV on the Ireland AM show. She discussed the scale and implications of prison overcrowding and the impact this has on people in prison.
Speaking about the solutions, she stressed the need to prioritise implementing them before turning to prison expansion.
Ms Joyce reiterated IPRT's concerns at proposals to expand the prison estate. Creating more spaces is not the answer to overcrowding. A quicker response to overcrowding would be to prioritise other penal reform measures mentioned in the Review of Penal Policy Options. Requiring judges to consider non-custodial and community-based sanctions; improving community service; reviewing Community Support Scheme & Return Programme; implementing High Level Task Force on Mental Health & Addiction recommendations and reviewing the Fines Act would all reduce overcrowding.
Watch back the segment here.
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.