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# Prisons

Last week
21st May 2023 - 27th May 2023
THE MORNING LEAD
Mountjoy's female prisoners without specialised rape counselling since last August
A report by
Eoghan Dalton
The situation has caused alarm for those working in the sector, as international research suggests at least half of female prisoners have been sexually abused.
Last month
April 2023
# Prison Overcrowding
Head of prison officer group says overcrowding is putting staff and prisoners 'at risk'
‘We once again have single cells doubled up, mattresses on floors, prisoner population going through the roof,’ POA leader Tony Power said.
This year
2023
Voices
Opinion: The Inspection of Places of Detention Bill promises reforms but doesn't go far enough
Dr Ian Marder and Dr Joe Garrihy look at the new prisons and detention bill and assess its potential impact on prison oversight.
Last year
2022
# Penal Reform
Judges to be able to set minimum life sentences as changes to Ireland's penal system announced
The plan is to keep non-violent offenders out of prison to reduce overcrowding.
# sexual violence
Irish Prison Service to launch major review of how psychologists deal with sex offenders
The Irish Prison Service has said that the work of its psychologists would be expanded to deal with people serving sentences for sexual violence.
# Prisons
Report finds minority groups in Irish prisons can face 'aggression and name calling' from staff
The Irish Penal Reform Trust has recommended mandatory anti-racism training that is embedded in prison practices.
All time
# Covid-19
Prison service facing 'unprecedented challenge' as it manages three Covid-19 outbreaks
There are at least 63 confirmed cases of Covid-19 among inmates.
# Isolation
Some prisoners had no access to a shower for 14 days while quarantining
The Irish Prison Service has “poor adherence” with laws on handling prisoner complaints, report finds.
# Covid-19
Prison officers defend withdrawal of 'goodwill' duties over concerns about when they'll be vaccinated
Officers say they have received no response from the government about the issue since December.
# Prisons
Report details case of mentally ill inmate found lying naked on floor of cell
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture has published a report on Irish prisons today.
# Prisoners
51 inmates in Irish prisons still 'slopping out' despite government pledge to end practice by this year
The total figure is a decrease from 465 people in January 2014.
# Irish Prison Service
Visiting restrictions relaxed further for prisoners - except at Portlaoise and Midlands prisons
Limits on visiting were introduced at the start of the Covid-19 crisis.
# new report
Number of people jailed for not paying court-ordered fines almost doubled in 2019
The Irish Prison Service annual report 2019 was published today.
# covid-19 measures
Prison Service now has temperature checks at the entrances to all prisons
“Difficulties do exist in implementing social distancing on the basis that over 52% of prisoners share cells,” a prison spokesperson said.
# Coronavirus
Public transport services to be reduced from next week
Visits to prisons will end from tomorrow, the government has also announced.
# Irish Prison Service
Coronavirus: Talks underway to reduce number of people in prison in a 'controlled manner'
Concerns had already been raised about how the Irish Prison Service would cope with Covid-19.
# Coronavirus
Six prisoners in Italy die from methadone overdoses during protest over Covid-19 measures
Family visits were restricted to prevent transmission in prisons, causing increased tensions.
# Coronavirus
'They don’t even have the capacity to keep everyone in single cells': Concerns over potential Covid-19 spread in prisons
The Irish Penal Reform Trust has said that overcrowded prisons make it harder to control the spread of the viruses.
# Irish Prison Service
Evidence to suggest tracking device was placed on private car of prison officer, report finds
The report was carried out by the Inspector of Prisons.
# supermax
El Chapo expected to go to 'prison of prisons' described as 'high-tech version of hell'
The facility in Colorado houses some of the United States’ most notorious criminals.
# three thousand nights
Over 3,400 cases of prisoners sleeping on mattresses on floors in past three months
Minister Charlie Flanagan said his officials are always working to try to reduce overcrowding.
# violent attacks
'Things are not getting better': Prison officers say they're attacked a lot more than official stats say
Jim Mitchell, from the Prison Officers’ Association. has said the official figures “don’t reflect” the situation on the ground.
# Contraband
Volume of drug seizures in Irish prisons soars by 42%, as over 1,000 recorded last year
557 weapons were also seized in Irish prisons last year.
# Contraband
An average of 12 phones are seized in Irish prisons every week
The figure is up on last year, but way down on 2008 when about 42-a -week were seized.
# blades
Prison officers seized two weapons a day over the last five years
Last year alone, 435 weapons were recovered from inmates.
# emptied out
Falling crime rates mean Netherlands' prisons are being used to house asylum seekers
They are also being turned into business hubs.
# a fine thing
Large drop in number of people being jailed for non-payment of fines
New legislation enacted last year is being heralded as the reason for the reduction in committals.
# Life on the Inside
'A prisoner will say to you: I know where you live, I’ll burn your house down, I’ll get your kids.’
Prison officers outlined the dangers they face in their day-to-day jobs.
# jailhouse dosh
Irish prisons paid €3 million in 'pocket money' to inmates last year
The Irish Prison Service has paid out over €27 million in pocket money to prisoners since 2009.
# Riot
26 dead as gangs behead inmates in Brazilian prison massacre
Officials said members of two drug gangs clashed violently after coming out of different parts of the prison.
# Prisons
Significant staff shortage at Cloverhill Prison as 36 people call in sick
Approximately 200 staff are supposed to work at the prison each day.
# On the Line
525 phones confiscated from Irish prisons so far this year
Prisoners found in possession of a mobile phone could be prosecuted.
# Inspector of Prisons
Tánaiste leads tributes following death of Judge Michael Reilly
The Inspector of Prisons died earlier today.
Voices
Opinion: 'Prison does not cure prisoners. They do not effectively punish crime'
It is common knowledge that deaths from suicide and drug overdoses are common in Irish prisons, writes researcher Stephen Strauss-Walsh.
# obama clementia
Obama makes history by pardoning the sentences of 214 prisoners
US president has now commuted 562 sentences, more than the previous nine presidents combined.
# Prison
Three convicted murderers were out on temporary release last week
In total, 10% of the prison population was out last Wednesday.
# decriminalisation
The 'War On Drugs' is driving a global epidemic of HIV, TB and hepatitis
Major new study says jails hothouse infectious diseases, which are then passed on to the wider community.
# on the outside
Irish prisons need to have a better plan for released inmates
A new prisons report is concerned with homelessness and re-offending among new releases.
# Lockup
Over 100 young Irish adults spend 23 hours a day in a cell like this
Young adults are overrepresented in the prison population.
# gangland bloodshed
'Gangs in prison are controlling the streets on the outside'
The Prison Officers Association is calling for power to be removed from gangs in prison.