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OVERCROWDING IS AN issue at Arbour Hill Prison, according to Inspector of Prisons, Judge Michael Reilly. He has also called for a greater awareness of the situation of elderly prisoners, in a report published today.
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Mr Alan Shatter TD, published the report of Judge Reilly and the Arbour Hill Prison Visiting Committee for 2011.
Minister Shatter said that he was pleased to announce that following on from the Inspector’s report, the Irish Prison Service has prepared an Action Plan for the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Inspector’s report.
In particular, as part of the Irish Prison Service Strategic Plan 2012 – 2014, it is intended to introduce a specific strategy for older prisoners.
Minister Shatter complimented the Governor and staff of Arbour Hill Prison for their continued good work and said: “Arbour Hill Prison is a good example of how things should be done”.
In his report, Judge Reilly complimented the management team, staff and Governor of the prison on its cleanliness, the fact that prisoners are engaged in relevant structed activity, its safe atmosphere and the programmes that aid prisoners reintegrating into society after their release.
He said he is satisfied that it is a well-run prison. The prison is a closed medium security committal prison for males aged 17 and over and the majority of prisoners are serving long sentences, with 43 prisoners serving life sentences. The majority of prisoners are sex offenders.
The prison was described as well-maintained and clean. The inspector stated that the prison should accommodate no more than 131 prisoners, but the Irish Prison Service says the bed capacity of the prison is 148. On 5 March 2010, 158 men were in the prison. He said a date should be announced by the Irish Prison Service by which the numbers in Arbour Hill Prison will be capped at 131.
There is an education centre at the prison, a print workshop that satisfies the printing requirements of the Irish Prison Service and also provides printed goods for other state agencies, charities and voluntary bodies. The braille unit and woodwork shop also provide services. The fabric workshop meets the total demands for bed sheets and pillow cases for all prisons, which leads to a saving to the Irish Prison Service of between €350,000 and €400,000 per annum.
The inspector noted the the Building Better Lives programme (BBL) therapeutic programme for men who acknowledge that they have committed a sexual offence, which is used in the prison.
He also noted:
It is difficult, if not virtually impossible, to provide accommodation post release for very high profile offenders or those assessed as being at high risk for fear that the location of their accommodation will become known to the public. This highlights the need for special accommodation and support facilities for this coterie of offenders. Sufficient facilities are not, at present, provided by statutory or voluntary agencies.
Arbour Hill Prison is considered a drug free prison and prisoners on methadone are not transferred there.
The inspector had a number of concerns, particularly around the elderly prisoners.
For many managing their daily tasks is only achieved with the assistance of fellow prisoners. Their difficulties are exacerbated by overcrowding in the prison.
The inspector added:
I have witnessed a blind man trying to take his daily exercise in the yard with no other aid than his white stick. I have witnessed another prisoner trying to get around his cell and the immediate space outside his door on the landing with a Zimmer frame. I have witnessed men with dementia and those that are incontinent. The prison and outside agencies give instruction and practical help to prisoners with sight or mobility problems which greatly assist such prisoners in their daily lives.
The inspector stated that every effort must be made to ensure that prisoners who do not subscribe to the Roman Catholic Faith must be accommodated to enable them practice their religion.
He also said the Irish Prison Service and local management must be conscious that, “even in the very difficult financial situation being experienced at present”, there “should be no diminution in the regimes and services at the prison”.
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The nickname in the prison service for Arbour Hill is “the monastery”….for obvious reasons.
Meant to be a very cushy number for the prison wardens…no 18 year old drugged up nutters trying take you on.
And there is no shortage of candidates to say mass if you are that way inclined :)
I am sure that many would agree with me in questioning the legal system as it stands.
If you committed the crime, serve the time.
Overcrowding should not make headline material.
Instead we should be reading that genuine offenders are in secure confinement for the imposed sentence.
Maybe Spike Island should be reconsidered.
The public deserves to feel that justice is not just done but that the sentence of a convict is upheld to the fullest.
Well Stray Mutt this has nothing to do with the legal system. As usual people enjoy bashing the legal sector without ever considering the position.
This is about funds for the prison service. Its about Public attitude. Why are prisoners let out early? Overcrowding. Why are the prisons to small/overcrowded? They are old, poorly designed and simply not fit for purpose. Why dont we have a new prison sufficient to deal with the problem – because the politicians wont prioritise it – because there are no votes in it. Its that simple.
Look down through the comments here Stray Mutt and I guarantee you you will find people questioning the need to put money in the prison service. You will see people saying that convicts should be put 10 to a room without water or facilities. Other ridiculous viewpoints such as “No money for prisons when it should go to hospitals”.
THAT is why prisoners are let out early – because we dont have the prisons. And we dont have the prisons because the public dont care about it.
Its has absolutely nothing to do with the legal system and everything to do with public attitude.
I hope there is enough room for Bertie ,Raoire, Oisin , Pee wee, and Dublin City Manager.
Maybe in P wing…
Arbour hill’s too good for that shower of pond life!
Over crowded! I say good! After all you don’t go in there for a holiday. The more unpleasant the better.
Idiotic.
Abusing people and depriving them of their human rights is a good way to adjust them to society you think? Theyll come out singing the States praises and want to immediately integrate into society?
Or perhaps….just maybe….theyll be a little pissed off about their treatment and take it out on Joe Sixpack? By whom I do of course mean YOU.
Well said Kevin, the punishment should fit the crime , its not a holiday camp we need , still see there are plenty of the do good, white gloves p.c. brigade out there like Causidy, maybe if he or any of his family had been affected by the wrongdoings of a sex offender would he be such a pro prisoner advocate,Causidys rant is just what we would expect from the p.c. / holy joe brigade, just goes to show how backward people really are
Backward. Im arguing for treating people with a basic amount of dignity and you want what? To make sure they are abused and degraded as a form of punishment….and I AM the one who is backward? Jesus.
So answer the question – do you think abusing people, taking away their basic human rights such as hygiene/toilet facilites and essentially degrading them is a good way to ensure that prisoners are both punished AND reformed and that society benefits?
Do you seriously think that is a good way to go about it?
How can you seriously expect anyone to have respect for the State and its laws when it treats them in such a shabby way? Your suggestion is basically that the State should descend to the level of these people. The State shouldnt strive to be better than the offender it should be equally as vindictive and depraved.
The level of ignorance displayed on these boards is quite frankly breathtaking.
They should never be forgiven and never ever let out there worse than a plague.
have your say