Since the commencement of the IPS Census of Restricted Regime Prisoners in July 2013, the number of prisoners on 22/23 hour restricted regime has decreased dramatically. However, IPRT is concerned about the length of time that individual prisoners are held in conditions which amount to solitary confinement.
Considering the decrease in the number of people on restricted regimes in recent years, we believe that it is an achievable goal for solitary confinement to be abolished in Ireland.
IPRT acknowledges the difficult challenge for any prison service in balancing prisoner safety (respecting the right to life) on the one hand, while at the same time providing prisoners with a reasonable and humane regime (respecting rights such as the right to private and family life). However, when drawing this balance, it is IPRT’s position that the potential harm to prisoners’ mental health that can be caused by extended periods of isolation means that the practice of holding any category of prisoner on 22+ hour lock-up must only ever be an exceptional measure; that this cannot be a solution in itself to prisoner safety concerns; and that robust safeguards must be in place in relation to the use of such regimes.
In 2016, IPRT secured funding from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission to pursue an evidence-based research and awareness campaign towards the abolition of the use of solitary confinement in Ireland. 'Behind the Door': Solitary Confinement in the Irish Penal System was published in February 2018.
For the latest IPS Census of Restricted Regime Prisoners, click here.
10th May 2019
The Irish Prison Service Statistics Office has published the Census of Restricted Regimes for April 2019.
10th August 2018
The Irish Prison Service Statistics Office has published its Census of Restricted Regimes for July 2018.
10th May 2018
Many of the issues raised by IPRT during our hearing before the Committee are included in the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality report on Penal Reform and Sentencing.
3rd February 2018
This event took place on Friday 2 February 2018 from 11am in the Hilton Kilmainham.
2nd February 2018
This report contains 25 key recommendations centring on the use of solitary confinement and restricted regimes in Ireland.
17th January 2018
The Irish Penal Reform Trust notes the publication of 14 reports from the visiting committees for each of Ireland’s prisons.
27th November 2017
The October 2017 Census shows an increase in the total number of prisoners on restricted regimes.
2nd September 2017
Although there has been an increase in the numbers on restricted regimes since the Census of Restricted Regime Prisoners July 2013, there has been a significant decrease, of 95%, on the number of prisoners on 22-/23-hour lock up.
24th August 2017
Stop Solitary for Kids is a website that highlights developments in particular States within the United States of America (USA) that have passed legislation that aim to limit the use of solitary confinement for children in detention. Currently 18 out of the 51 States in the U.S.A have either developed or are currently developing legislation reducing the use of solitary confinement for children.
2nd August 2017
The Juvenile Law Center in their latest report (2017) highlight the issues facing children and young adults in detention who are subjected to solitary confinement. In this report the authors address issues such as the impact solitary confinement can have on the cognitive, social and emotional development of those subjected to solitary confinement during their developmental years. They also highlight the correlation between cognitive development and behaviour labelled as challenging, as well as the impact deprivation of social inclusion can have on the ability to recover from solitary confinement post-release.
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.