Archive for the ‘Justice’ Category
Clare questions the Minister for Justice regarding the need to address the flawed policy of sending women to prison; the ongoing efforts needed to tackle drugs inside Irish prisons, and the cutbacks in treatment available for those who want to deal with their addiction….
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For Oral Answer on : 19/10/2017
Question Number(s): 10 Question Reference(s): 44225/17
Department: Justice and Equality
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QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to parliamentary question numbers 233 and 234 of 10 October 2017, his plans to rethink his strategy in relation to women with regard to the building of a larger prison facility and the promotion of step down facilities rather than non custodial alternatives and supported independent living.
REPLY
I wish to advise the Deputy that in the joint Probation Service/Irish Prison Service Women’s Strategy 2014 – 2016, An Effective Response to Women Who Offend, published in 2014, the Irish Prison Service made a commitment to explore the development of an open centre/open conditions for women assessed as being at low risk of re-offending.
This commitment was acknowledged in the Report on the Strategic Review of Penal Policy which also recommended a greater focus on step down facilities, supported accommodation, the use of more community based open conditions for female offenders, and the provision of an open centre for women.