Irish Penal Reform Trust

The Facts

1. There are 4,936 people in prison custody in Ireland (1 May 2024).

1. There are 4,936 people in prison custody in Ireland (1 May 2024).

2. The rate of imprisonment in Ireland is approximately 89 per 100,000 of the general population (beginning of 2023).

2. The rate of imprisonment in Ireland is approximately 82 per 100,000 of the general population (end of August 2022).

3. In 2022, the average cost of an “available, staffed prison space” was €84,046, a 4.6% increase from the year before.

3. In 2021, the average cost of an “available, staffed prison space” was €80,335.

4. The overall daily average number of prisoners in custody in 2022 was 4,122 compared to 3,792 in 2021, an increase of 8.7% (+330).

4. The overall daily average number of prisoners in custody in 2021 was 3,791 compared to 3,824 in 2020, a decrease of under 1%.

5. In 2022, there were 3,046 prisoners committed under sentence serving sentences of less than 12 months, an increase from 2,548 in 2021.

5. In 2020 there were 2,548 prisoners committed under sentence serving sentences of less than 12 months.

6. The majority of Irish prisoners have never sat a State exam and over half left school before the age of 15.

6. The majority of Irish prisoners have never sat a State exam and over half left school before the age of 15.

7. The average number of females in custody in 2022 was 173, a 17% increase on the 2021 average of 144.

7. The average number of females in custody in 2021 was 144, a slight decrease on the 2022 average of 148.

8. The daily average number of female offenders in custody rose by 14% in the ten-year period between 2012 and 2022

8. The daily average number of female offenders in custody rose by 29% in the ten year period between 2006 and 2016.

9. As of October 2023, there are 7 people in prison slopping out, without in-cell sanitation.

9. As of April 2022, there are 31 people in prison slopping out, without in-cell sanitation.

10. As of October 2023, 2,369 (51.3%) prisoners were required to use the toilet in the presence of another prisoner (+213 since January 2023)

10. As of April 2022, 1,908 (47.5%) prisoners were required to use the toilet in the presence of another prisoner.

Our work is supported by

Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.

Subscribe

Legal

Contact us

This website uses cookies to provide a good browsing experience

Some are necessary to help our website work properly and can't be switched off, and some are optional. Click on "Choose cookies" below for more information on the cookies being used on this website. Please note that based on your settings, not all functions of the website may be available. You can manage your preferences by visiting “Cookie preferences" at the bottom of any page.

This website uses cookies to provide a good browsing experience

Some are necessary to help our website work properly and can't be switched off, and some are optional. Please choose the cookies to allow below. Please note that based on your settings, not all functions of the website may be available. You can manage your preferences by visiting “Cookie preferences" at the bottom of any page.

Your cookie preferences have been saved.