DIT Conference: Human Rights at the Heart of Penal Policy

28th November 2014

The Dublin Institute of Technology School of Languages, Law and Social Sciences will host a major conference on human rights and penal policy, supported by the Irish Research Council, on 28 November 2014 in DIT Grangegorman campus. 

The conference aims to promote debate and prompt action concerning the compliance of Ireland's penal practice with domestic and international human rights norms.

The conference will bring together prison and associated staff, academics, lawyers, policymakers, those who work with prisoners and former prisoners, and all those interested in penal policy to discuss how to put human rights at the heart of our penal policy.

Confirmed speakers and chairpersons include:

• Judge Michael Reilly, Inspector of Prisons;
• Professor John Podmore, Durham University and former prison governor; 
• Dr Elina Steinerte, University of Bristol and expert on OPCAT;
• Deirdre Malone of the Irish Penal Reform Trust;
• Lisa Mackenzie of Howard League Scotland;
• Niall Walsh of Pathways; 
• Senator Ivana Bacik;
• Dr Mary Rogan BL of Dublin Institute of Technology.

Topics will include: accountability mechanisms within our prisons; visiting committees; staff training; OPCAT; the position of the prisoner as a holder of rights; and human rights challenges in Irish penal policy.

The conference will be followed by the launch of former Chairperson of IPRT, Dr Mary Rogan BL's new book Prison Law, published by Bloomsbury Professional. 

 Registration and further details are available here. Attendance is free, but places are limited.