12th May 2013
This submission is intended to inform the work of the Irish Prison Service and the Irish Probation Service in the development of a Strategy for Women Offenders. It was prepared by the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) and the Women in Prison Reform Alliance (WIPRA), of which IPRT is a member.
WIPRA comprises a number of key agencies and experts including the National Women’s Council of Ireland, the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice, Depaul Ireland, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, The Mercy Justice Office, the Dominican Justice Office and Dr Christina Quinlan, as well as IPRT.
IPRT and WIPRA believe that there is significant potential for increased diversion of women offenders to cheaper and more effective remedies. Given the dramatic increase in imprisonment of women in recent years and the impact overcrowding has had on regimes and conditions at the Dóchas Centre and at Limerick Prison, increased diversion from prison will also improve the conditions of detention for female prisoners and staff.
Download the submission here.
The submission was authored by: Jane Mulcahy, IPRT Research and Policy Officer, and Dr ChristinaQuinlan, All Hallows College, Dublin City University.
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.