Irish Prison Service Annual Report 2010: Figures

31st August 2011

Analysis of figures reported in the 2010 Annual Report of the Irish Prison Service.

4,290 - the daily average number of prisoners in custody in 2010. This is an increase of 10.5% on 2009 daily average of 3,881; 3,544 in 2008; 3,321 in 2007. From 2001-2006, the average number was consistently between 3,100 and 3,200.

5,022 - the average number in the prison system (incl. temporary release) in 2010.

12.4% - percentage females of the 13,758 individuals committed to Irish prisons in 2010.

17,179 - total committals to prison in 2010 (increase of 11.4% from 15,425 in 2009). Of the 17,179 total committals, 11,861 were under sentence; 4,836 were on remand; and 479 were immigration-related and 3 were committals for contempt of court.

6,683 - people imprisoned for failure to pay court-ordered fines in 2010 (the Fines Act was passed end May 2010.)

22.86% - increase in committals for sentences of <6mths in 2010 on 2009 figures; sentenced committals for 6-12mths decreased by just 3% on 2009 (there had been consistent increases 2005-09, inclusive.)

37% - decrease in 10+ yr sentences on 2009 figures. The number of life sentences handed down in 2010 was 18 (this has remained constant at around 20 each year, 2005-2010.)

17.5% - increase in 5-10 yr sentences on 2009 figures.

10.4% - decrease in 3-5 yr sentences on 2009 figures.

14% - decrease in 2-3 yr sentences on 2009 figures.

3% - increase on 1-2 yr sentences on 2009 figures.

31.4% - decrease in immigration-related committals from 2009 to 2010; the number of such committals had previously fallen by 30% from 2008 to 2009.

€70,513 - annual cost per prisoner in 2010 (down from €77,222 in 2009 and €92,717 in 2008).

Overview of prison figures in recent years:

The following comparisons are based on figures reported in the 'Report of the Thornton Hall Project Review Group', published 28th July 2011.

• Between 2001 and 2010, the number of males (individuals) committed to Irish prisons increased by almost 40%% the number of males (individuals) committed to Irish prisons increased by just under 55% on 2005 figures.

• Between 2001 and 2010, the number of females (individuals) committed to Irish prisons increased by 84%; the no. of females (individuals) committed to Irish prisons increased by over 87% on 2005 figures. Numbers have rocketed since 2008.

• From 2005 to 2010, the number of committals under sentence to Irish prisons more than doubled from 5,088 to 12,487.

• Total committals on remand has been declining slightly in recent years, although there is an increase in 2010 (4,836) on 2009 (4,519).

• Committals for sentences of <6 months rocketed from 2,982 in 2005 to 9,405 in 2010.

• Committals for 3-5 yr and 5-10 yr sentences almost doubled 2005 to 2010

• Comparing 2005 and 2010 figures, the biggest increase in sentence profile of prisoners on a given day is 3-5 yrs (71%) and 5-10 yrs (62%).