IPRT Submission to the Department of Justice on the Review of the Prison Visiting Committees

22nd August 2022

Prison Visiting Committees (PVCs) can play a crucial role in ensuring that people in prison are treated appropriately and afforded their human rights. Given this, we welcomed the public consultation on PVCs, to examine their existing functions, powers, appointment procedures, and reporting processes. The public consultation and overall review mark a landmark opportunity for Ireland to address the current problems with how PVCs operate and – in conjunction with the recently published General Scheme of the Inspection of Places of Detention Bill and upcoming ratification of OPCAT – work towards becoming a leader of best practice in inspection and monitoring of prisons.

The IPRT submission to the review addressed the following key issues:

• Powers, Duties and Training of the Prison Visiting Committees
• Publication of Reports
• Resourcing of the Prison Visiting Committees
• Diversity/Representation on the Prison Visiting Committees
• Awareness of the Prison Visiting Committees

In total, the IPRT submission to the review makes eight overarching recommendations for reform.

Read the IPRT submission in full here.