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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri
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ireland
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ireland
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489 total results foundAuthor: Ireland. Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform Title: Fear of Crime in Ireland and its Impact on Quality of Life Summary: This report investigates the level of fear of crime in Ireland and its impact on the quality of life by assessing factors that influence both aspects. Details: Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009 Source: National Crime Council Year: 2009 Country: Ireland Keywords: Fear of Crime Shelf Number: 116214 |
Author: Seymour, Mairead Title: Young People on Remand Summary: This report discusses issues and options related to remanded juveniles. Details: Dublin: Minister for Health and Children, 2008 Source: Center for Social and Educational Research, Dublin Institute of Technology Year: 2008 Country: Ireland Keywords: Juveniles Shelf Number: 116515 |
Author: Ireland. Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform Title: Report on the Youth Justice Review Summary: This analysis provides a broad picture of youth offending and detention in Ireland in recent years. Details: Dublin: The Stationery Office, 2006 Source: Year: 2006 Country: Ireland Keywords: Juvenile Detention Shelf Number: 115787 |
Author: Carroll, Jennifer Title: The Children Court: A National Study Summary: This report present data on the Children Courts in Ireland and the young people who face charges before these courts. The research provides quantitative data on the background and history of young people involved in the youth justice system in Ireland. Itis based on a detailed examination of court files and information from a range of agencies in relation to a sample of 400 young people with cases completed in the Children Court in 2004. This study if the first piece of empirical research which provides nationwide statistics on the circumstances of young offenders, their backgrounds, education, offending trends and passage through the court system. Details: Dublin: Association for Criminal Justice Research and Development Ltd., 2007. 92p. Source: Year: 2007 Country: Ireland Keywords: Juvenile Court Shelf Number: 113304 |
Author: Martynowicz, Agnieszke Title: Detention of Children in Ireland: International Standards and Best Practice. Summary: Relatively little is known about Irish children who come into conflict with the law and much work needs to be done to identify the barriers children face exercising their rights in the criminal justice system. However, research undertaken in Ireland indicates that such children come from poor socio-economic backgrounds; many of them have lived out-of-home or been in care; they have weak attachment to family and invariably have problems with drugs and/or alcohol. They are typically early school leavers and mental health and behaviour problems are particularly prevalent among this group. Where these risk factors converge, the risk of being involved in criminal behaviour is multiplied. Through our investigation of individual cases in the Office of the Ombudsman for Children we are finding evidence of a system that is not designed to respond to these complex needs. We see the results of criminal behaviour taking precedence over the welfare needs of children and young people. The central ethos of the Children Act, 2001 is the diversion of children away from the criminal justice system. The approach taken in the Act, focusing on preventative measures and restorative justice mechanisms, is the right approach and the one which best protects the rights of children and young people in conflict with the law in line with Ireland's legal obligations. Through this approach, the complex needs of children can be addressed without the need to resort to youth justice measures. However, the implementation of non-custodial solutions for children in conflict with the law in Ireland is slow, and more needs to be done to make the principle of detention as a measure of last resort a reality When detention of children is deemed necessary, it should only be used for the shortest appropriate time. The conditions in which children are held and the support which they are to be afforded is laid out in detail in international standards which are described in this report. I have seen for myself in Ireland that the Children Detention Schools, operating under the umbrella of the Irish Youth Justice Service, employ many practices that aim to respect the rights of children in their care. The continued detention of boys in St Patrick's Institution (pending the construction of the National Children Detention Facility) remains a serious concern, and is not in compliance with international human rights standards. Having visited all of the Detention Schools and St Patrick's Institution, I am convinced that the detention of children in prisons must end. Of additional concern is the fact that I cannot investigate complaints from children held in St Patrick/s Institution due to an exclusion in the Ombudsman for Children Act, 2002. I therefore particularly welcome the recommendation contained in the report that supports both my own and the Committee on the Rights of the Child recommendation to extend the remit of the Ombudsman for Children's Office to include the power to receive complaints from children so held. The system of detention of children in Ireland is currently undergoing a major change. This is a real opportunity to get things right from the outset and the best interests of children must be at the heart of any developments in this area. I believe that the future development of the system of Children Detention Schools should be centred on the principles of rights, rehabilitation and care. Details: Dublin: Irish Penal Reform Trust, 2009. 96p. Source: Accessed May 19, 2017 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/Detention_of_Children_in_Ireland_FINAL.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Ireland Keywords: Human Rights Shelf Number: 117594 |
Author: Hayes, Jennifer Margaret Title: Emotional Intelligence, Mental Health, and Juvenile Delinquency Summary: This paper describes young people detained by the Irish State for engagement in serious criminal conduct across a number of psychological domains. These domains include, levels of criminality, psychological morbidity, cognitive functioning, trait emotional intelligence and ability emotional intelligence. The research also briefly identifies family and school related factors associated with young people who have offending problems. Details: Cork, Ireland: Juvenile Mental Health Matters, 2007. 68p. Source: Year: 2007 Country: Ireland Keywords: Juvenile Delinquency (Ireland) Shelf Number: 116375 |
Author: Irish Youth Justice Service Title: Designing Effective Local Responses to Youth Crime: A Baseline Analysis of the Garda Youth Diversion Projects Summary: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs) are one of the measures in place to help reduce youth crime. This report is the first part of an improvement programme for GYDPs, as envisaged by the National Youth Justice Strategy 2008-2010. The report was undertaken to provide an account of youth crime as it occurs in local areas and to analyse how GYDPs intend to impact upon youth offending. The report aims to help secure better outcomes for young people engaged with GYDPs and to make a corresponding impact on youth crime. Details: Dublin: Irish Youth Justice Services, 2009. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: http://www.iyjs.ie/en/IYJS/GYDP%20Baseline%20Report.pdf/Files/GYDP%20Baseline%20Report.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Ireland Keywords: Juvenile Diversion Shelf Number: 116376 |
Author: Ireland. Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Anti-Human Trafficking Unit Title: Summary Report of Trafficking in Human Beings in Ireland for 2009 Summary: The Summary Report of Trafficking in Human Beings in Ireland for 2009 is the first report to be produced by the State regarding suspected and potential victims of trafficking. The report provides an extensive overview of trafficking in human beings as it occurred in Ireland in 2009. Information was collected from a number of different sources which included the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and several non-governmental organisations. The report also provides important information regarding the suspected victims, their backgrounds and their experiences. Details: Dublin: Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, 2010. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 12, 2010 at: http://www.justice.ie/en/jelr/AHTU%20Summary%20Report%202009.pdf/Files/AHTU%20Summary%20Report%202009.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Ireland Keywords: Forced Labor Shelf Number: 119937 |
Author: Duffy, Anne Title: Copping On: Evaluation Report Summary: The focus of Copping On is the implementation of a national crime awareness programme with young people at risk, and the development and support of local multi-agency responses to the issue of youth offending. The evaluation includes a survey of those in school retention, second chance education, justice projects, justice agencies, Health Service Executive and youth work who have participated in Copping On training and gives their experiences with and suggestions for change in the programme. The ethos of Copping On is about tackling the roots of youth crime instead of just the symptoms and this has helped to change the lives of many young people. This report adds to the small, but growing body of publications relating to young people at risk of offending and will help to raise the profile of Copping On. Details: Lexlip, Ireland: Copping On, 2005. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 15, 2011 at: http://www.coppingon.ie/PDF%20&%20Word%20Files/Copping%20On%20Report-WEB.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Ireland Keywords: Delinquency Prevention Shelf Number: 121012 |
Author: Kelleher Associates Title: Voices of Families Affected by Imprisonment Summary: Imprisonment of a family member has a significant impact on those left outside. Even though they have not committed a crime, family members can feel stigmatised and shamed and carry huge emotional and health costs. Families deserve support in their own right, a support which is tailored to their own needs. Supporting families is also crime prevention. Having a parent involved in crime is a strong risk factor for the child becoming involved in crime. Supporting children and teenagers when a parent goes into prison can help to interrupt the cycle of inter-generational criminal activity. It has also been found that people in prison who maintain good family contact are twice as likely to have employment and housing on leaving prison and are six times less likely to re-offend. The Bedford Row Family Project commissioned Kelleher Associates to undertake research on the needs of families who attend the project. The research has three main aims: • To give expression to the experiences of families of having a family member in prison. • To assist the Bedford Row Family project to make informed decisions about its future work. • To undertake a critical examination of the manner in which statutory policies, provision and practices impact upon these families and their relationships. As part of the research, interviews were held with 52 family members, including eleven ex-prisoners. Personnel from key agencies in the Limerick region, including staff at Limerick Prison, were interviewed. Discussions were also held with staff from the Bedford Row Family Project. A review of key government policy documents and selected literature was carried out. The conclusions and issues arising from the study are presented fully in Chapter Five report. Details: Limerick, Ireland: Bedford Row Family Project, 2007. 99p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 15, 2011 at: http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/11832/1/Bedford_Row_Family_Project_2007.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Ireland Keywords: Children of Prisoners (Ireland) Shelf Number: 121014 |
Author: Murphy, Candy Title: From Justice to Welfare: The Case for Investment in Prevention and Early Intervention Summary: For the small but significant number of children who come into contact with the criminal justice system, it can too easily become the defining event in their young lives. The repercussions of contact with the criminal justice system extend beyond the individual, to societal-wide implications in terms of the structure of communities and the financial costs borne by the State. We know that a criminal justice system based around punishment is an ineffective and costly way to deal with offending behaviour that is often rooted in identified social problems. Approaches to crime that are centred on prevention and early intervention seek instead to build protective factors, reducing the potential negative impacts on a child’s development of unfavourable external circumstances, thereby playing a role in reducing crime and criminality. The prioritisation of prevention and early intervention requires not only a shift in resources, but also a fundamental sea change in how society thinks about the concept of justice. Ultimately, this report champions the possibility of reducing crime - and the costs of crime - through prevention and early intervention, and a redistribution of resources to tackle the root causes of crime. The study examines the role of early intervention and prevention in reducing crime and criminality, drawing on national and international literature. It begins by reviewing the available literature on the characteristics of those involved in crime and spells out the known risk and protective factors in relation to criminality. It then draws out the key findings from the literature on the effectiveness and impact of early intervention and prevention on reducing criminality internationally to inform a wide ranging debate on this important topic in Ireland. Details: Dublin: Irish Penal Reform Trust, 2010. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 15, 2011 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/From_Justice_to_Welfare_-_The_Case_for_Investment_in_Prevention_and_Early_Intervention.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Ireland Keywords: Delinquency Prevention (Ireland) Shelf Number: 121015 |
Author: Martynowicz, Agnieszka Title: It's like stepping on a landmine…” – Reintegration of Prisoners in Ireland Summary: This report from IPRT assesses the current provision of reintegration services and support for prisoners before and after their release from prison, identifies key systemic failures, and makes 14 clear recommendations for necessary improvements. Statistical analysis indicates that, at present, 60% of those with prison experience will return to prison at some point. With a prison population that has risen by 65% in the last 12 years - and is set to reach 5,000 by the end of 2010 - the successful reintegration of prisoners is even more crucial than ever. Details: Dublin: Irish Penal Reform Trust, 2010. 71p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 15, 2011 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/%E2%80%9CIts_like_stepping_on_a_landmine%E2%80%A6%E2%80%9D%E2%80%93_Reintegration_of_Prisoners_in_Ireland.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Ireland Keywords: Prisoner Reintegration (Ireland) Shelf Number: 121016 |
Author: King, Dervla Title: Parents, Children and Prison: Effects of Parental Imprisonment on Children Summary: Research conducted in several other countries has highlighted the negative impact that a parent's imprisonment can have on children. Among the key findings to emerge from the studies are the fact that parental imprisonment can have a negative effect on the financial situation of children, that it can give rise to changes in children's behaviour, and that it can fundamentally alter and sometimes lead to a breakdown in parent-child relationships. In addition, children may be placed under a great deal of stress if they are stigmatised as a result of their parent's imprisonment, or if they feel that they have to keep the sentence a secret from their peers and from others. These themes were reflected in the design of the instruments used for this study. The research was conducted in the Mountjoy Prison complex during the summer months of 2001. During this period, interviews were conducted with caregivers who use the Visitors' Centre in the prison complex and with parents in prison. A total of 26 prisoners (5 female, 21 male) agreed to participate in the study. Interviews were also carried out with 19 caregivers (18 female, male). Data were collected by means of a questionnaire that was administered on a one-to-one basis. Informal discussions took place with children who use the Visitors' Centre, with childcare workers and staff members from the Visitors' Centre, with staff of the Probation and Welfare Office, with ex-offenders, and with prison officers. This report ends with a number of recommendations to better address this issue. Details: Dublin: Dublin Institute of Technology, Centre for Social & Educational Research, 2002. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 17, 2011 at: https://arrow.dit.ie/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=cserrep Year: 2002 Country: Ireland Keywords: Children of Prisoners (Ireland) Shelf Number: 121056 |
Author: Nelson, Wynn Title: Review of Service Provision for Women Involved in Prostitution in Dublin 24 Summary: In 2007, the Health Promotion Subgroup of Tallaght Drug Task Force (TDTF) decided to place a focus on prostitution and sex working in Dublin 24 because several local service providers including Needle Exchange, HSE outreach and community projects were becoming increasingly concerned about anecdotal reports of women working in prostitution in the area. The report is based on 37 individual interviews with representatives from 24 community/statutory/voluntary and private service providers ("Community interviews"); 9 women directly involved in prostitution ("Women's interviews"); findings from a survey of 48 women attending the Women's Health Project; findings from a Training Day offered to service providers; direct observation of areas in Tallaght known to be used for soliciting, and a search of the internet. The findings indicate that there are at least 106 females involved in prostitution operating in Dublin 24 or from Dublin 24 and working elsewhere. Section 1 introduces the background to the research. Section 2 provides context drawn from the literature. Section 3 describes the methods. Section 4, 5 and 6 presents the research findings: Section 4 outlines a profile of the women involved, Section 5 considers vulnerability and how to identify it. Section 6 looks at service provision. Section 7 concludes the research and Section 8 lists evidence-based recommendations to inform future planning. Details: Dublin: Tallaght Drugs Task Force, 2010. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 17, 2011 at: http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/14546/1/Tallaght_Womens_Service_review.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Ireland Keywords: Prostitutes Shelf Number: 121058 |
Author: Cox, Gemma Title: Drug Use, Sex Work and the Risk Environment in Dublin Summary: The National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) provides advice to the government in relation to the prevalence, prevention, treatment/rehabilitation and consequences of problem drug use in Ireland based on its analyses of research findings and information. Action 98 of the National Drugs Strategy requires the NACD to carry out research on drug misuse among at-risk groups, including prostitutes/sex workers. In response, the NACD undertook this study to explore female and male problematic drug-using sex workers’ lived experience of risk, and how the risk environment can mediate the individual’s capacity to reduce the risk of harm. The concept of the risk environment was broadly defined as comprising risk factors that are external to the individual. Thus, the ‘environment’ encompasses not only the physical space within which drug-using sex workers live and work, but also the social, economic and policy environment. The key findings of this report are that drug-using sex workers are exposed to multiple risks and harms in their living and working lives. While the men and women interviewed implemented a range of innovative strategies to reduce their risk of harm, there is an acceptability associated with certain risk behaviours in certain circumstances. The physical, economic and social environments within which drug-using sex workers find themselves impact on their construction of ‘risk’ and ‘harm’. For example, the social organisation of risk means that what from the outside may be perceived as being risk behaviour can to members of the social network serve important social/group functions. In order to enable individuals to effectively reduce their risk of harm, policymakers and service providers need to focus and redirect interventions towards the risk environment, in particular the social situations and places in which harm is produced and reduced. As a client group, drug-using sex workers have multiple, interlocking needs that span health, social and legal issues. Therefore, addressing their wider social and situational needs such as poverty, housing, educational needs and employment prospects are as fundamental to reducing their risk of harm as addressing their drug use. Details: Dublin: National Advisory Committee on Drugs, 2009. 208p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 17, 2011 at: http://www.nacd.ie/publications/Druguse_SexWork-Web.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Ireland Keywords: Prostitutes Shelf Number: 121059 |
Author: Lyons, Suzi Title: Close to Home: A Study on the Misuse of Drugs and Alcohol in the Midland Region Summary: The Midlands Regional Drugs Task Force (MRDTF) commissioned this study in order to establish an evidence base for drug-related issues in the Midlands region to inform the development of appropriate strategies and to respond to these issues in four selected communities. A rapid situation assessment technique was used, bringing together information from several different sources as well as interviews and focus groups with key informants in four selected communities. The key findings include the following. The MRDTF area covers four counties with a population of approximately one-quarter of a million people, and has seen a rise in its population and a change of ethnic mix over the past years. Overall it has marginally lower educational levels and housing occupancy than the national levels. One in five of the population in the MRDTF area has used an illegal drug at least once in their lifetime. Younger adults, especially men used illegal drugs, however it is shown that a proportion of women have used legal drugs. The majority of alcohol and drug use appears to start before the age of 18. The serious impact of this is clear: two out of every five drug-related deaths in the MRDTF area was a person aged 20 to 29 years of age. Alcohol use is also very prevalent among the population and was the main problem substance treated in the region (2004 – 2007). It was also implicated as an additional substance in many cases treated for polysubstance use. Alcohol (in conjunction with another drug or substance) was implicated in over onequarter of drug-related deaths in the region. Cannabis was the most commonly used drug in the general population, but the data indicated that ecstasy, cocaine and heroin was also available in the region, along with a range of other illegal and legal drugs. Cocaine use emerged as a newer trend. An opiate (mainly heroin) was the main problem drug treated in the region. Heroin and other opiates were implicated in over one-third of all deaths due to poisonings reported in the MRDTF area between 1999 and 2005. While the number of people who sought treatment for benzodiazepine addiction was very small, there was evidence that it was being abused in the MRDTF area and has been implicated in more drug-related deaths in the area than any other substance. Benzodiazepines were used by opiate and alcohol users. Polysubstance use among drug users in the region was evident. The upward trend in prosecutions for heroin in the two Garda Divisions comprising the MRDTF area indicated that the heroin market has spread to these four counties. Although the number of prosecutions for cocaine was lower it follows a similar upward trend. Details: Offaly, Ireland: Midlands Regional Drugs Task Force, 2010. 111p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 17, 2011 at: http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/13108/1/MRDTF_Report_Close_to_home.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Ireland Keywords: Alcohol Abuse Shelf Number: 121060 |
Author: Kelleher Associates Title: Globalisation, Sex Trafficking and Prostitution: The Experiences of Migrant Women in Ireland Summary: Globalisation, Sex Trafficking and Prostitution - the Experiences of Migrant Women in Ireland" presents stark evidence of the trafficking of women and girls into and through Ireland for the purposes of sexual exploitation. It shines a light on the reality of large numbers of migrant women being sexually exploited in indoor prostitution in Ireland. Drawing on the experiences of these women, the report illustrates the severe emotional, physical and psychological harm that women who are trafficked and sexually exploited in Ireland endure. Details: Dublin: Immigrant Council of Ireland, 2009. 207p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2011 at: http://www.immigrantcouncil.ie/images/stories/Trafficking_Report_FULL_LENGTH_FINAL.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Ireland Keywords: Human Trafficking (Ireland) Shelf Number: 121114 |
Author: Ward, Eilis Title: The Nature and Extent of Trafficking of Women into Ireland for the Purposes of Sexual Exploitation 2000 - 2006: A Report from Findings Summary: This report provides a baseline of cases of sex-trafficking into Ireland between the years 2000 – 2006. It concludes that for these years, the probable minimum number of such cases was 76. The vast majority of those cases occurred between 2003 and 2006 and the majority of women trafficked into Ireland were from Eastern Europe. The second largest grouping came from Africa – and the single biggest national grouping from Nigeria. Women were also trafficked into Ireland from Asia and South America. These women were located in the sex industry in both Dublin and outside the capital in towns and cities throughout the country. Our research revealed the use of force, coercion, deception and physical and sexual violence as part of the transit journey. In most cases, when contact was made with agencies and organisations, the women were in states of distress, they frequently had little or no English and were extremely vulnerable. Of the 76 cases, 36 women subsequently disappeared from contact with the organisations and their whereabouts or status is unknown. Fourteen women were repatriated and twenty-two were granted leave to remain or, at the time of writing, were in the asylum process in Ireland. Three were deported and one woman was repatriated to a third country. Our research identified a serious gap in service provision and support in Ireland for women who have been sex-trafficked, largely deriving from the absence of legislation. While many organisations and services are attempting to fill that gap and collaboration exists between statutory and non-statutory agencies, the absence of a legislative framework, funding, policy directions and a coherent state response continues to hamper that work. Our research underlines the urgent need for legislation and that the Irish state is under international obligation to implement law and a policy response. The vast majority of our respondents stressed the importance of a human rights approach to such legislation. The research findings are derived from both qualitative and quantitative methodologies supported by a review of relevant international and Irish literature. Details: Galway: Social Sciences Research Center, National University of Ireland, 2007. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: SSCR Research Papers and Reports No. 39: Accessed March 28, 2011 at: http://www.nuigalway.ie/ssrc/documents/The%20Nature%20and%20Extent%20of%20Trafficking%20of%20Women%20into%20Ireland%20for%20the%20Purposes%20of%20Sexual%20Exploitation%20(2000-2006)%20-%202007.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Ireland Keywords: Human Trafficking (Ireland) Shelf Number: 121144 |
Author: Kelly, Mark Title: Immigration-Related Detention in Ireland Summary: Until recently, it was comparatively rare for people to be detained for immigration-related reasons in Ireland. However, over the last few years, a range of statutory detention powers has been introduced to authorise the detention – in Garda Síochána stations and prisons – of: • people refused permission to land • applicants for asylum and • people due to be deported. In addition, people may be held in prison on remand (i.e. awaiting trial) for immigration-related reasons. Official figures published for the first time in this report show that, in 2003-2004, a total of 2,798 people were held in prison for immigration-related reasons. In 2004, some two thirds of those detained were held in prison for periods of longer than 51 days. This report provides a detailed description of the legal framework that applies to immigration-related detainees, outlines the legal authority on which people can be detained, lists the authorised places of detention in which they can be held, and identifies possibilities for them to appeal against their detention and/or request that its legality be reviewed. This is the first time that an up-to-date synthesis of the law in this area has been published. The report also examines the formal legal safeguards that are offered to persons detained for immigration-related reasons and benchmarks these against international human rights standards. Details: Dublin: Human Rights Consultants, 2005. 71p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 28, 2011 at: http://idcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/irc-detention-report-2005.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Ireland Keywords: Immigrant Detention (Ireland) Shelf Number: 121145 |
Author: Ombudsman for Children and Young People Title: Young People in St. Patrick’s Institution Summary: St. Patrick’s Institution is a closed, medium security prison managed by the Irish Prison Service, which holds remand and sentenced young people between 16 and 21 years of age. Adjacent to Mountjoy Prison in Dublin, the Institution’s main buildings are part of a Victorian prison complex dating back to 1850 and were the site of the women’s prison before becoming a place of detention for young offenders. The Institution has a bed capacity of 217. This capacity is spread across four different ‘divisions’ or wings. The majority of young people under 18 detained in St. Patrick’s Institution are accommodated in B Division. With a bed capacity of 44, this division comprises single occupancy cell accommodation with in-cell sanitation. When this capacity is exceeded, young people have to double up and share a cell. Young people under 18 may also be held on C3 landing in C Division, which is the landing for prisoners in the Institution who are placed or request to be placed on protection. They may also be accommodated in D Division, which is the drug-free division in the Institution. The number of young people under 18 detained in the Institution at any one time is slightly less than one third of the prison’s total population and rarely exceeds 60 to 65 young people. Statistics provided by the Irish Prison Service indicate that in early November 2010, when this report was being finalised, there were 46 young people under 18 being detained in the prison, 33 of whom have been in custody previously, either under sentence or on remand. Of the 46 young people under 18, 28 were serving a sentence, 2 for a period of less than 3 months, 17 for between 6 months and one year, and 9 for a period of more than one year. As regards the offences that young people were serving sentences for, the highest number were for burglary (4 young people), assault (4 young people), assault causing harm (3 young people), criminal damage (3 young people), and unauthorised taking of an MPV (3 young people). Under the exclusions set out in Section 11 of the Ombudsman for Children Act, 2002, young people under 18 detained in prison are outside the OCO’s investigatory remit (11(1)(e)(iii)). The OCO’s consultation with young people in St Patrick’s Institution was conducted in accordance with the OCO’s statutory obligations under Section 7 of the 2002 Act to: • consult regularly with groups of children and young people; • highlight issues relating to children’s rights and welfare that are of concern to children and young people themselves; advise Ministers on matters relating to the rights and welfare of children; • monitor and review the operation of legislation relating to children; • encourage public bodies to develop policies, practices and procedures that promote the rights and welfare of children. The Ombudsman for Children has raised concerns about the situation of young people in St. Patrick’s Institution at national and international levels on a number of occasions, including in her 2006 Advice on the proposed changes to the Children Act, 2001, in her 2005 and 2007 Annual Reports as well as with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2006 and with the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights in November 2007. These concerns related to the exclusion of children in prison from her investigatory mandate; the detention of children in adult facilities and alongside adults; and the material conditions of the prison. The OCO’s consultation with young people in St. Patrick’s Institution also builds on: • a previous visit by the Ombudsman for Children to the Institution in November 2007; • an invitation from the Governor to the Ombudsman for Children to meet with young people committed there, which provided the basis for a visit by OCO staff to the prison in 2008; • commitments made by the State in its response to the Council of Europe’s CPT report of 2007, which indicated the State’s openness to visits by the Ombudsman for Children to the Institution. In accordance with provisions under Section 7 of the 2002 Act, the overall aim of this project has been to conduct a consultation with young people under 18 years of age in St. Patrick’s Institution about their experiences of and perspectives on their lives and different aspects of the regime in the Institution. In fulfilling this aim, the Ombudsman for Children’s Office worked to achieve the following project objectives: • to hear directly from young people about their experiences of detention in St. Patrick’s Institution; • to encourage young people to take on responsibility; • to highlight young people’s concerns and ideas for change as regards their situations and conditions in the Institution; • to facilitate due consideration, as appropriate, of the young people’s views and ideas at management level in the Institution and at senior national policy and political levels; • to develop constructive working relationships between the Ombudsman for Children’s Office and both the Irish Prison Service and management and staff in St. Patrick’s Institution, which can be built on in the future. Details: Dublin: Ombudsman for Children's Office, 2011. 74p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 11, 2011 at: http://www.oco.ie/assets/files/St%20Pats%20Report.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Ireland Keywords: Juvenile Corrections Shelf Number: 121300 |
Author: Kelleher, Cathy Title: An Overview of New Psychoactive Substances and the Outlets Supplying Them Summary: This report represents the outcome of a review of new psychoactive substances within the Irish context, including a review of the outlets that supply these substances. The review was commissioned by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) in accordance with Action 14 of the National Drugs Strategy (interim) 2009–2016. Action 14 provides for the monitoring of ‘head shops’ and other outlets for the sale of psychoactive substances, under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 and the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations 2007. Researchers at the Centre for Social and Educational Research (CSER) within the School of Social Sciences and Law at Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), and at the School of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (DIT), conducted the review between May and August 2010. The proliferation of head shops and online retailers has facilitated the emergence of a range of new psychoactive substances in Ireland. Such outlets have supplied products containing powerful synthetic substances that mimic the common illegal stimulants cocaine, ecstasy and amphetamine; they have also supplied synthetic cannabinoids designed to serve as cannabis substitutes. Often these substances are ‘research chemicals’, with no medicinal value, and where there is little existing knowledge in relation to their safety or toxicity. The location of head shops in prominent areas has highlighted their existence, and has fuelled concerns relating to their unknown potential for causing harm. The ‘head shop phenomenon’ has received unprecedented attention from the general public and the media, while the dynamic nature of the phenomenon has led to demands for a swift and comprehensive response from legislators. In response to the ‘phenomenon’, the Government introduced legal measures, including the control of BZP (March 2009) and the control of mephedrone (May 2010). Also in May 2010, the Government made an Order under the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 and 1984 controlling a broad range of new psychoactive substances, including benzylpiperazine derivatives, synthetic cannabinoids and a number of named cathinones. In August 2010, the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010 came into operation, making it an offence to sell, import, export or advertise psychoactive substances. This move coincided with a sharp decrease in the number of head shops which had been open for business and a significant decrease in the availability of new psychoactive substances in the few shops remaining open. This review represents the aggregation of available knowledge on new psychoactive substances within the Irish context, and empirical research aimed at providing new insights into this complex phenomenon. Specifically, the review sought to assess the availability and accessibility of new psychoactive substances in retail outlets throughout Ireland and online, and to identify and describe the products, and where possible, their specific contents. A range of new psychoactive substances was acquired and was subjected to Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) chemical analysis in order to identify active constituents. The availability of reference standards for the analysis of new psychoactive substances was also determined. Alongside the analyses, published data in relation to new psychoactive substances and their effects were reviewed and an online survey of users of head shop products or ‘legal highs’ (as they are commonly known) was conducted in order to gain insights into patterns of use and reported effects. To further explore the use and effects of these substances, semi-structured interviews were conducted with both ‘recreational’ users and ‘problem’ drug users. Based on available information and data gathered, a number of risks associated with the use of new psychoactive substances were identified. Harm-reduction measures to minimise risk to users were considered in light of existing advice for users of cannabis and stimulant drugs. Finally, measures taken in other jurisdictions to restrict psychoactive substances were examined. Details: Dublin: National Advisory Committee on Drugs, 2011. 176p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 15, 2011 at: http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/15390/2/NACDoverview3B217396d01.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Ireland Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Shelf Number: 122078 |
Author: Ireland. Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform Title: Review of the Drug Treatment Court Summary: The Drug Treatment Court (DTC) was established on a pilot basis in 2001. It was initially evaluated in 2002 and a further short review was carried out in 2005. The court was placed on a permanent footing in 2006 as recommended in the 2005 review. The Agreed Programme for Government 2007-2012 contained a commitment to expand the court. However, in the light of concerns regarding the numbers being served by the court, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform directed that prior to any expansion a further review should be undertaken in order to evaluate its continued effectiveness. The object of the review is to identify the reasons behind the low number of referrals and examine how increased throughput could be achieved. Details: Dublin: Department of Justice, Equality and Law Review, 2010. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 18, 2011 at: http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/13113/1/Drug_Court_Report_final_2010.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Ireland Keywords: Drug Abuse Treatment Shelf Number: 122095 |
Author: Holohan, Carole Title: In Plain Sight: Responding to Ferns, Ryan, Murphy and Cloyne Reports Summary: The report looks at the abuse and exploitation of Irish children in State funded institutions. The five key findings established were: 1. No clear lines of responsibility make true accountability impossible. 2. The law must protect and apply to all members of society equally. 3. Recognition of children’s human rights must be strengthened. 4. Public attitudes matter. Individual attitudes matter. 5. The State must operate on behalf of the people, not on behalf of interest groups. In 'Lessons for Today', the report highlights some issues which relate directly to the work of IPRT, including how successive governments have failed to address inhuman and degrading conditions in Irish prisons despite being criticised by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, Visiting Committees and the UN Committee against Torture. The research also points out that the UN Committee against Torture has expressed grave concerns over the continued detention of 16 and 17 year old boys at St. Patrick's Institution and calls on the Government to allow the Ombudsman for Children to receive individual complaints from children held in St. Patrick's. Also concerning St. Patrick's Institution, Dr. Holohan expressed that: "There needs to be clearer lines of accountability for decisions taken by the executive government – including decisions not to implement commitments previously made." She then questions how the Government can justify their decision to indefinitely delay the building of a new detention facility for children which will bring an end to the detention of 16 and 17 year olds in prison. Dr. Holohan's research shows that Ireland does not have a formal juvenile penal policy, and there is little preventive or early intervention work done with children who display offending behaviour. As an example, the report cites research which has found that among males aged 21-30 years, early school leavers have an imprisonment rate of 46.6 per 1,000 compared with 1.6 per 1,000 for those who completed their Leaving Certificate. In Plain Sight also highlights a 2007 study of 18-25 year olds experiencing homelessness carried out by the Children's Research Centre at Trinity College, Dublin. This study established that one of the main ways of a young person becoming homeless was leaving a State care system, for example a residential setting for young offenders. The report goes on to state that mental health services in the youth justice system are shown to be lacking. Despite the fact that children in the youth justice system and children in State care are among those at high risk of experiencing mental health issues, reports show that access to child and adolescent mental health services for these children remains inadequate. Details: Dublin: Amnesty International Dublin, 2011. 436p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 3, 2011 at: http://www.amnesty.ie/sites/default/files/INPLAINSIGHT%20%28WEB_VERSION%29.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Ireland Keywords: Catholic Church Shelf Number: 122971 |
Author: Cameron, Ian Title: The enforcement of fines: A follow-up review of inspection recommendations Summary: In March 2010 Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJI) published a report on the enforcement of fines in Northern Ireland. The report found that fine enforcement was a significant part of the justice system and that public confidence in the system depended on whether people believed justice was being done and that it was fair and effective. Whilst compliance in Northern Ireland was relatively high the report went on to say that the current system was an inappropriate and expensive use of police and prison resources. It also noted that there was a need for substantial change to the enforcement process and a stricter regime for the payment of fines to maximise compliance and minimise recourse to police enforcement and prison. The report made 10 recommendations for improvement, directed across the criminal justice system, aimed at maintaining the current levels of compliance while responding to the need for change. The purpose of this follow-up review was to assess progress in implementing those recommendations. Of the 10 recommendations made in the original report, three have been achieved, five partially achieved and two not achieved. Inspectors accept the complexity of the issues surrounding the enforcement of fines, and acknowledge that much work has been undertaken, in particular the work of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) which has made a significant reduction in the number of warrants issued to the police. In addition, the Fine Enforcement Project Group has also been established to take forward fine enforcement in the criminal justice agencies. The Department of Justice (DoJ) has a strategy with a view to introducing collection powers and a revised enforcement regime in the forthcoming Justice Bill. In addition, the introduction of Supervised Activity Orders (SAOs) have the potential to make a positive impact as they are rolled-out across Northern Ireland. Despite this work, overall progress in reducing the number of people sent to prison solely for fine default has been slow. Indeed since the last inspection the numbers have actually increased from 1,247 in 2009 to 2,179 in 2011. This places tremendous pressures on the prison service at a time when it is undergoing a significant change programme. It places undue pressures on women prisoners and leaves the enforcement system open to abuse as people discharge their fines with minimal effort. As the Justice Minister has stated it is not sustainable to continue to send people to prison for fine default for a short period. This would indicate that there have not been the substantive changes required to the enforcement process nor has there been a stricter regime introduced to maximise compliance and minimise police enforcement and the use of imprisonment. Only when this has been completed – as outlined in the original inspection report - will the social and financial cost of short-term sentences for fine default and the operational impact on the courts, police and prisons be addressed. Details: Belfast: Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, 2012. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed Sugust 1, 2012 at http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/4c/4c885d6d-9ffe-4791-83b4-26d374631f45.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Ireland Keywords: Court Fines (Northern Ireland) Shelf Number: 125832 |
Author: Bartlett, Helen Title: Sexual Violence Against People with Disabilities: Data Collection and Barriers to Disclosure Summary: The report focuses on analysing data on experience of sexual violence by people with disabilities collected in the RCNI Database over 2008-2010; understanding barriers to disclosure for people with disabilities; and reviewing and analysing relevant database models used to record incidents of sexual violence as experienced by people with disabilities. The report analyses data from the Rape Crisis Network Ireland Database. Incidents of sexual violence reported by people with disabilities in the Republic of Ireland in the three years from 2008 to 2010 were analysed from this dataset. Findings from this analysis will inform broader policy on providing appropriate and accessible disclosure support and abuse monitoring structures for people with disabilities. We elicited input from people with disabilities through an anonymous online survey. People with disabilities are best placed to contribute to policy development by identifying barriers that limit their access to information and supports concerning sexual violence. Their insights will progress policy on how sensitive data is captured, while protecting privacy and ensuring easy access to people with any form of disability. Barriers were identified and solutions to challenges proposed by the survey respondents. The analysis of the survey will be of interest to a wide range of stakeholders including those who support people with disabilities and those who support survivors of sexual violence. The research also reviews existing data collection mechanisms in order to identify international models of good practice and makes practical recommendations for nationally coordinated data collection on sexual violence experienced by people with disabilities. The recommendations also have relevance for monitoring other forms of abuse against people with disabilities. Details: Galway: Rape Crisis Network Ireland, 2011. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 13, 2012 at: http://www.rcni.ie//uploads/SexualViolenceAgainstPeopleWithDisabilities2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Ireland Keywords: Adults with Disabilities Shelf Number: 126008 |
Author: O'Mathuna, Donal P. Title: Counterfeit Drugs: Towards an Irish Response to a Global Crisis Summary: Ireland has benefited greatly from authentic pharmaceuticals. They contribute to both individual’s health and the economy. Counterfeit drugs can seriously undermine both areas. Counterfeit drugs cause much death and suffering around the world. Different strategies are used to sell counterfeit drugs in developed and developing countries. Either way, they provide substantial incomes to unscrupulous individuals and organizations. The problem is global. It requires a coordinated global response. Counterfeit drugs are defined in different ways. This creates difficulties in evaluating and policing trade in counterfeit drugs. A global definition needs to be accepted so that the problem can be tackled efficiently and globally. An important step towards this is on the horizon through the International Framework Convention on counterfeit drugs being developed by the WHO. Tackling counterfeit drugs requires many different strategies involving the active cooperation of all stakeholders. These include governments, the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare professionals, police, customs, distributors, patients’ organizations, and those concerned about people’s rights. Most importantly they involve individuals making decisions not to purchase unregulated drugs of any kind, no matter how attractive they may seem. Only through individual decisions and global policies can society embark upon the elimination of this scourge. Details: Dublin: Dublin City University, 2005. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 28, 2012 at http://www4.dcu.ie/news/2006/jan/counterfeit_drugs_report.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Ireland Keywords: Counterfeit Drugs (Ireland) Shelf Number: 126132 |
Author: Barry, Colette Title: Death in Irish Prisons: An Examination of the Causes of Deaths and the Compliance of Investigations with the European Convention on Human Rights Summary: Death is a tragic and unfortunately unavoidable aspect of life in a prison. The death of a prisoner raises significant questions in relation to the conditions of confinement and the conduct of the prison authorities. Robust investigations into these deaths can enhance accountability by shedding light on deficits in both institutional and systemic practices, as well as providing families of the deceased with a sense of closure. In Ireland, the investigative responses to prison deaths are neither robust, nor do they allow for significant scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding the death. The causes of deaths in custody and the compatibility of the ensuing investigations with international standards have not been subjected to empirical analysis in this jurisdiction. The current study attempts to address this. Using data collected from coronial inquest files in the Dublin City Coroner’s district, the causes of prisoners’ deaths were subjected to a rigorous thematic analysis. The efficacy of the inquest process and its compliance with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights were also examined. This study exposes a myriad of issues relating to both the causes of deaths and the resulting investigations. The findings highlight issues such as appropriate drug treatment strategies, deficits in medical practices, and the poor provision for family participation at the inquest proceedings. Most importantly, the research findings show that prisoners’ deaths are caused by a variety of factors, and as such there can be no ‘one size fits all’ approach to the problems. Details: Dublin: Dublin Institute of Technology, 2011. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Masters Dissertation: Accessed September 17, 2012 at: http://arrow.dit.ie/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1026&context=aaschssldis Year: 2011 Country: Ireland Keywords: Deaths in Custody Shelf Number: 126357 |
Author: Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland Title: Police Service of Northern Ireland Customer Service: May 2011 Summary: The way which a police service engages with the local community is a cornerstone of community confidence. A negative interaction can create a barrier between the police service and the community it is there to protect and serve. Alternatively, a positive engagement which encourages problem solving, courtesy, visibility and accessibility can have implications far beyond the behaviours of individual officers. A focus on improving customer service has been an important feature in recent years within police forces in England andWales, and it is particularly important in the context of Northern Ireland. This inspection report sets out our findings on customer service within the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The purpose of the inspection was to examine the quality of customer service provided by the PSNI. It examined the way in which the Police Service understands what is required from a customer perspective, the accessibility of services, standards for service delivery and achievement of better outcomes. Our overall conclusion is that customer service is taken seriously by PSNI senior management and we commend the commitment shown to improving how the police engage with the local community by the Chief Constable. Initial steps had been taken within the Service to improve public confidence and the nature of the interaction between the police and those who would seek to use the services provided. These plans and developments were at an early stage and the Service still faced a number of challenges in implementing the Chief Constable’s commitment to ‘personal, professional and protective’ policing. Whilst the commitment to customer service from the top of the organisation was evident, it was too early to say what the ultimate outcome of these plans would be. In moving the agenda forward it is important there is better co-ordination of projects within the PSNI to ensure greater consistency of service delivery across Northern Ireland. In particular there is a need to ensure that the values and behaviour of ‘personal, professional and protective‘ policing are clear to all officers with evident standards and consistency at the point of service delivery. The report also concludes that there is a need to reduce the levels of abstraction of neighbourhood officers to ensure neighbourhood policing is properly delivered. This inspection was undertaken by Rachel Lindsay andWilliam Priestley of CJI, with assistance from colleagues in Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC). Details: Belfast, Northern Ireland: Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, 2011. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 20, 2012 at http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/93/93329071-5912-41bd-9119-57f8e4ffc7a6.PDF Year: 2011 Country: Ireland Keywords: Police Behavior (Northern Ireland) Shelf Number: 124240 |
Author: Martyn, Michelle Title: “Picking up the Pieces”: The Rights and Needs of Children and Families Affected by Imprisonment Summary: In this report the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) highlights the rights and needs of children and families affected by imprisonment in Ireland. Children and families coping with imprisonment are often described as the ‘hidden’ victims of the penal system because they must endure their own sentence, despite not having perpetrated any crime. While many issues that children and families of prisoners experience are universal, IPRT examines the current challenges that are specific to the Irish situation. IPRT investigates these within the framework of the rights of the child and the rights of the family where Ireland has ratified, and is legally obliged to comply with, the European Convention on Human Rights 1950 (ECHR) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 (UN CRC). The key issues are illustrated in the text through interviews with children and family members, whose voices are often left unheard. Finally, IPRT puts forth our recommendations for change. Details: Dublin: Irish Penal Reform Trust, 2012. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 23, 2013 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/IPRT_Children_of_Imprisoned_Parents2.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Ireland Keywords: Children of Prisoners Shelf Number: 127353 |
Author: Ireland. Probation Service Title: Probation Service Recidivism Study 2011 Summary: The Probation Service and Central Statistics Office have established a partnership to conduct research on recidivism and related issues among offenders on supervision in the community. This first study report is based on anonymised offender and offence information on a 2007 cohort of offenders from the Probation Service supervision database. The study reports on recidivism within two years among that cohort using four years follow up of recorded crime and Court Service data held by the Central Statistics Office. The study also examines variations in recidivism relating to type of original order, gender and age of the offender, category of original offence and of the subsequent offence. This recidivism study, in partnership with the Central Statistics Office, provides a clear overview of community sanctions and their outcomes; informing the Service in the development and support of effective interventions in working to make our communities safer. Details: Dublin: Probation Service, 2012. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Probation Service Research Report 2; Accessed January 29, 2012 at: http://www.probation.ie/pws/websitepublishingdec09.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/The+Probation+Service+Recidivism+Study+2007-2011/$FILE/The+Probation+Service+Recidivism+Study+2007-2011.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Ireland Keywords: Offender Supervision Shelf Number: 127427 |
Author: Quigley, Eoghan Title: Drug Policy Profiles — Ireland Summary: The national drug policy of Ireland comes under the spotlight in the second volume in the EMCDDA series of Drug policy profiles. Examining the evolution of Irish drug policy through four periods of historic development, the report explores: the country’s national strategies; the legal context within which they operate; the public funds spent, or committed, to implement them; and the political bodies and mechanisms set up to coordinate the response to the problem. The profile sets this information in context by outlining the size, wealth and economic situation of the country as a whole, as well as the historical development of the current policy. Also described is the manner in which events in Ireland bear similarities with, and differences from, developments in other European countries. Details: Lisbon: EMCDDA, 2013. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 7, 2013 at: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/drug-policy-profiles/ireland Year: 2013 Country: Ireland Keywords: Drug Law Enforcement Shelf Number: 127860 |
Author: Children's Rights Alliance Title: Safe Care for Trafficked Children in Ireland: Developing a Protective Environment Summary: This report focuses on developments in care for trafficked children in Ireland with a specific aim of outlining current practice in Ireland in relation to the provision of safe and appropriate accommodation, care, supports, and legal protection to trafficked children or those children suspected of being trafficked. The report is based on a series of interviews carried out by the research team between September and December 2011, on child trafficking, with professionals in the areas of child welfare, care, education, and advocacy. It also incorporates written feedback received between December 2011 and May 2012 from the HSE, AHTU, Irish Refugee Council, Immigrant Council of Ireland and Barnardos on draft reports. Furthermore, it draws on publicly available information on child trafficking in Ireland and internationally. Up to now the public discussion on child trafficking in Ireland has largely focused on the known cases of separated children and the vulnerability of this particular group. Until the end of 2010, responsibility for the care of this group of children lay largely with the Separated Children Seeking Asylum team of the HSEB who have developed insight and expertise in this area. This can now be utilised in the transition to the new care arrangements for separated children. There is another emerging group of nonmigrant children who are being trafficked in Ireland. We understand that there have been prosecutions and other cases are under investigation and are therefore not discussed in this report. Information was not available on these cases at the time of writing the report. Nevertheless, our recommendations on safe care provisions are applicable to all groups of trafficked children or children vulnerable to trafficking. Trafficking is a contentious term and while international and national definitions have been developed, we have found that understandings in practice can differ, leading to variations of approach and perspective. The report comprises of five sections plus a section on conclusions and recommendations arising from the research exercise. Section 1, ‘Child Trafficking: Brief Overview and Key Policy Responses’, offers an outline of child trafficking, including key policy directions and practices, with a focus on current developments in the area. Section 2, ‘Separated children and Service Provision in Ireland: A Service in Transition’ looks at the context in which services have transitioned from a largely Dublin based hostel system of provision to a national fostering based service for separated and trafficked children. Section 3, ‘Child Trafficking: Key Concerns’ addresses three specific issues which emerged from this research namely missing children, family reunification and aftercare. Section 4, ‘Training’ highlights areas where training needs are most crucial including identification of those children and young people who are trafficked or at risk of being trafficked, developing resources in responding to their care needs, awareness of security and safety issues as well as developing cultural competency. Section 5, ‘Public Awareness Campaigning’ examines the role of various advocacy and awareness raising campaigns as well as the issue of the development of a dedicated missing children hotline. Finally, Section 6, ‘Developing a Protective Environment: Conclusions and Recommendations’ brings together some important issues as identified in this research which could inform practice in the area of safe care for trafficked children going forward. Details: Dublin: Children's Rights Alliance, 2012. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 15, 2013 at: http://www.childrensrights.ie/sites/default/files/submissions_reports/files/SafeCareForTraffickedChildrenInIrelandReport.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Ireland Keywords: Child Protection Shelf Number: 127963 |
Author: Van Hout, Marie Claire Title: A Rapid Assessment Research (RAR) of Drug and Alcohol Related Public Nuisance in Dublin City Centre Summary: The research aimed to assemble an evidence base around perceived anti-social behaviour associated with the provision of drug treatment in Dublin’s city centre, upon which to build a strategic response incorporating short/medium/long term goals and actions within the area. It will be used to guide discussions on how to reduce visibility of drug related public nuisance, improve public perceptions of safety in the area and provide comprehensive, safe, effective and appropriate treatment services within a series of short, medium and long-term strategies. Methods employed The RAR method combined various research methods and data sources in order to construct an overview of the problem by cross-checking and comparing the information from several different sources, which included the following; 1. A critical review of literature using the following inclusive search terms: anti-social behaviour, public nuisance, open drug scenes, public place injecting, intimidation, drug related litter, situation crime prevention, policing, community activism, urban regeneration and drug mandated treatment from the period 1998 to 2012 and using several electronic databases (Google Scholar, Ebsco Host, Science Direct, PubMed). 2. PULSE data for the research area was analysed and provided by An Garda Siochana. 3. A mapping exercise inclusive of an environmental visual assessment using digital photographs to view the geographical distribution of drug and alcohol related public nuisance was undertaken to assess levels of ‘hotspots’ for public nuisance, anti-social drug and alcohol using congregations, drug related littering, alcohol retail outlets and placement of drug treatment, housing, policing and community services in the area. 4. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with business and transport stakeholders (n=19), community, voluntary and statutory stakeholders (n=19), and service users (n=23). 5. Random street intercept surveys were conducted with passers-by (n=25) and with drug users (n=26). The chosen methodologies are essentially concerned with participant experiences of anti-social behaviour in this research area, types of behaviours recorded and opinions around potential strategic response. Data was collected over a four-week period in November and December 2011 and January 2012 by an experienced Privileged Access Interviewer [PAI]. Details: Dublin: Strategic Response Group, 2012. 187p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 16, 2013 at: http://inef.ie/documents/SRG%20Research%20report%20final%20Dec%202012(Final).pdf Year: 2012 Country: Ireland Keywords: Alcohol Related Crime, Disorder Shelf Number: 128385 |
Author: Ireland. Inspector of Prisons Title: An Assessment of the Irish Prison System Summary: In my various reports to date I have identified areas of concern. I have explained how certain practices do not meet International best practice. I have given guidance on how International best practice should be implemented. I have commented on the consequences of failure to implement such practice and I have suggested reforms in certain areas. I have published standards against which prisons should be benchmarked. I have engaged with the Minister for Justice and Equality (hereinafter referred to as the “Minister”), his officials, the Irish Prison Service and local management of prisons in an effort to ensure that our obligations as a Country to our prisoners are understood, that operating procedures are standardised throughout all prisons and that the advice that I have given in my various reports detailing best practice is being acted upon. 1.2 The areas of concern referred to in paragraph 1.1 are overcrowding, slopping out, mental and general health issues, the lack of dedicated committal areas in our prisons, the use of Safety Observation and Close Supervision Cells, investigations of deaths in custody and prisoner complaints. I dedicate a separate chapter to each of these issues. 1.3 In Chapters 2 to 9, I give an assessment on where the Irish Prison System stands at the moment regarding the areas of concern raised by me over the years and referred to in paragraph 1.2. 1.4 I am satisfied that great strides have been made by the Irish Prison Service within the last number of years to address the serious concerns raised by me. These strides would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of the Minister and his officials. 1.5 I have stated in paragraph 1.4 that great strides have been made. However, the physical characteristics of a prison or of a particular part of a prison or the formulation of standard operating procedures will not necessarily guarantee adherence to accepted best practice. The Irish Prison Service and the local management of prisons must be proactive to ensure that there is no slippage in this regard. 1.6 I now have additional resources in my office (See Chapter 6 of my Annual Report 2012). Therefore, if slippages do occur, I will be in a position to monitor same and report as appropriate. Details: Nenagh, Ireland: Office of the Inspector of Prisons 2013. 82p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 9, 2013 at: http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/An%20Assessment%20of%20the%20Irish%20Prison%20System.pdf/Files/An%20Assessment%20of%20the%20Irish%20Prison%20System.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Ireland Keywords: Correctional Administration Shelf Number: 129284 |
Author: Freeman, Sinead Title: Surviving on Remand: a Study of how Young People Cope in Remand Custody in Ireland Summary: The fusion of young people to the prison setting has been described as a toxic combination. This is especially pertinent when applied to youth in remand custody. Previous research studies have identified young people on remand as a highly vulnerable prison population and custodial remand to be a particularly stressful prison experience. Despite this, little research to date has examined how young people cope while remanded in custody. This thesis addresses this gap by providing an insight into the issue of coping on remand through the voices of young people in custody in the Irish context. It is informed by an interactionist theoretical framework which proposes that human behaviour consists of interactions between individual and environmental factors. The thesis employs an exploratory research design and incorporates a multi-method approach consisting of an observation study in the Children Court and the use of semi-structured interviews and standardised instruments with 62 young people aged 16 to 21 detained in custody in three remand settings. The findings reveal a major contradiction in terms, between the non-punitive concept of remand and the actual experiences encountered in the Irish context. Youth on remand are a forgotten population who are exposed to a particularly punishing and stressful experience which restricts their coping actions. This results in a high level of coping difficulty not only during the remand period but also on release or transfer to sentenced custody. The detrimental impact of remand indicates that remand custody should only be used as a measure of last resort and for a minimum duration of time. The majority of young people on remand would be better served by the development of alternatives to custodial remand, in particular bail support and supervision schemes which allow them to remain in the community. The implementation of change to the current remand environment and regime is also vital for the small number who pose a threat to public safety and must be detained a measure of last resort. Central to this reform, is the recognition of young people on remand as a distinct prison population by policy-makers, service providers and researchers and the implementation of separate, tailored facilities and activities which effectively meet their coping needs and respect their fundamental right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Details: Dublin: Dublin Institute of Technology, 2009. 327p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed July 9, 2013 at: http://arrow.dit.ie/appadoc/15/ Year: 2009 Country: Ireland Keywords: Juvenile Corrections Shelf Number: 129333 |
Author: National Crime Council (Ireland) Title: Problem Solving Justice: The Case for Community Courts in Ireland Summary: A report presented by the National Crime Council to Mr. Michael McDowell, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform today recommends the establishment of Community Courts in Ireland, the first such Court to be located in Dublin’s inner city. Community Courts, which started in the United States, are now being developed in many countries as an example of "problem solving justice" to deal with offenders of less grave crimes which have a material impact on the "quality of life" of citizens. Padraic White, Chairman of the National Crime Council, in presenting the Report to Minister McDowell, said that there was an outstanding opportunity to develop a successful Community Court in Dublin city centre covering the Store Street and Pearse Street Garda station areas. The proposed Community Court would, he said, "complement the planned Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) initiative in Dublin city centre which will involve businesses contributing a special levy to a fund for the enhancement and upgrading of the area." He said that a third positive element in the area is the North Inner City Community Policing Forum which is well established and whose work would complement the new Community Court and the BIDs initiative. Padraic White cited examples of the type of offence to be dealt with by the Community Court as drunk and disorderly conduct, assault, criminal damage, graffiti and petty theft. He said that "Community Courts take a problem-solving approach to such offenders, using a range of health and social services while some defendants may be required to undertake community work in the neighbourhood to make some reparation for their offending in that neighbourhood." Details: Dublin: Stationery Office, 2007. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 10, 2013 at: http://www.crimecouncil.gov.ie/downloads/NCC_Problem_Solving_Justice.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Ireland Keywords: Community Courts (Ireland) Shelf Number: 110513 |
Author: Irish Prison Service Title: Irish Prison Service Recidivism Study Summary: This report is a study of recidivism among all prisoners released by the Irish Prison Service on completion of a sentence in 2007, based on reoffending and reconviction data up to the end of 2010. The study focuses on recidivism where the new offence does not necessarily lead to a period of imprisonment and gives a clearer picture of the offending behaviour of ex-prisoners. Previously, the only information available to the Service related to re-imprisonment rates. This research project was undertaken in partnership with the Central Statistics Office, specifically the Crime Statistics Section, who facilitated the linking of Irish Prison Service data, Garda Síochána records and Courts Service records. This type of cross-agency analysis of released prisoners has not been possible in the past and this is the first study of its kind in theRepublicofIreland. The findings mark an important contribution to criminological research inIrelandand highlight the need for a greater emphasis on a structured multi-agency approach to preparing prisoners for their release. It will also enable yearly monitoring of recidivism trends and the evaluation of rehabilitation interventions. Main Findings •A recidivism rate of 62.3% within three years. •Over 80% of those who re-offended did so within 12 months of release. •The recidivism rate decreased as the offender age increased. •Male offenders represented 92.5% of the total population studied and had a higher recidivism rate than female offenders (63% for males and 57% among females). •The most common offences for which offenders were reconvicted was Public Order Offences. •Burglary offenders, while a relatively small group within the study, had the highest rate of reconviction at 79.5%. Details: Longford, Ireland: Irish Prison Services, 2013. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 11, 2013 at: http://www.irishprisons.ie/images/pdf/recidivismstudyss2.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Ireland Keywords: Prisoners Shelf Number: 129368 |
Author: Reed, Howard Title: Tobacco Taxation, Smuggling & Smoking in Ireland Summary: In 2011, the Irish Heart Foundation commissoned Landman Economics to assess the future impact of tax increases on smoking rates and the illicit trade in tobacco. The study shows that a €1 tax increase on a packet of 20 cigarettes would bring in €68 million in extra receipts and a further €28 million in indirect public finance benefits. Such an increase would also result in some 30,000 people quitting smoking in Ireland. Given that roughly one in two smokers ultimately die from the habit, this single action would help up to 15,000 people countrywide to live longer. In addition to a price increase, the report recommends: A Government commitment to a price escalator whereby tobacco taxes rise by a certain amount each year in future budgets (for example, 5 percent per year above inflation). Expenditure on anti-smuggling operations such as enforcement and supply chain control should be increased by around €8 million per year. This would match per capita spending in the UK where smuggling has been reduced from 21% to 12% despite regular tax increases above inflation. A similar reduction here would bring in around €130 million of extra revenue to the Exchequer per year. Details: Dublin: Irish Heart Foundation, 2011. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 23, 2013 at: http://www.irishheart.ie/media/pub/advocacy/Tobaccotaxationsmugglingandsmoking.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Ireland Keywords: Cigarette Smuggling (Ireland) Shelf Number: 129488 |
Author: Irish Penal Reform Trust Title: Women in the Criminal Justice System: Towards a Non-Custodial Approach Summary: The IPRT Position Paper 10: Women in the Criminal Justice System - Towards a non-custodial approach includes an account of recent trends in the imprisonment of women in Ireland. It goes on to look at the complex range of needs experienced by many women convicted of an offence and the associated overuse of remand for women offenders. It then discusses the issues faced by women in prison who have caring responsibilities, followed by a section on challenges faced by women leaving prison. Key Messages - The number and proportion of women in the Irish prison population has increased significantly in recent years. Most women are committed to prison for non-violent offences, such as non-payment of fines. Consequences have included overcrowding in women's prisons and an overuse of temporary release. - Women offenders tend to come from a background of social disadvantage and poverty, and often suffer from mental health problems, substance dependency, accommodation problems and poor family relationships. These issues can make it difficult for women to adhere to bail conditions, which has led to an overuse of remand for women offenders. This in turn has negative implications for children of women who are imprisoned on remand and the employment prospects of these women. - A high proportion of women in prison have children. Women also play an important role in caring for dependent relatives. Women who are imprisoned can no longer fulfil their caring responsibilities and the consequences of this can be significant. This is particularly an issue for mothers with babies, due to the absence of a mother and baby unit in either female prison in Ireland. - Women face a range of problems on being released from prison, relating to housing, accommodation and stability, and over half of women prisoners reoffend. - Developments in the UK have reflected a growing acknowledgement of the value of non-custodial alternatives and community-based supports for women offenders. This has also been highlighted by the UN, in the 'Bangkok Rules', which have informed the Irish Inspector of Prisons on the subject of women prisoners. - The 'one-stop-shop' approach to supporting women offenders in the community takes a holistic approach, with a range of supports and services provided in one location. A number of centres in the UK are based on this promising model. In Ireland, the Tus Nua project provides supported housing and other supports to women leaving the Dochas Centre. - This position paper makes two key recommendations: that a non-custodial approach should be adopted for women offenders; and in the few cases where prison is necessary, the negative impact of imprisonment on the women and those they care for should be minimised. The next section details developments in the UK and prison standards that reflect an increasing acknowledgement of the value of a community-based approach to dealing with women offenders. This is followed by an overview of some emerging models of good practice, followed by conclusions and two key recommendations. Details: Dublin: Irish Penal Reform Trust, 2013. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: IPRT Position Paper 10: Accessed March 14, 2014 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/IPRT_Position_Paper_on_Women_in_the_Criminal_Justice_System.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Ireland Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Shelf Number: 131924 |
Author: Rape Crisis Network Ireland Title: The Older Child and Sexual Violence Summary: One in five girls and one in six boys (aged 0-17) experience contact sexual abuse. There is increasing evidence that children from 13 to 17 years of age experience sexual violence in a way that is significantly different to the younger child in terms of nature, context, relationship to abuser and duration of abuse. This was most recently evidenced in the RCNI's Hearing Child Survivors of Sexual Violence report, (Oct., 2013), regarding children attending specialist sexual violence services in Ireland. This report found that the under 13 child was most likely to experience sexual assault in their own home or the abusers, by a male family member over a period of years. However, the child between 13 and 18 years old was most likely to experience rape, by a friend, acquaintance or neighbour, with the violence lasting for hours and taking place in outdoor or location other than the home. These stark differences demand differences in responses and prevention. With statutory responsibility for children dispersed across a wide range of statutory agencies it has become critical to ask if we are confident that the specific needs of the older child are being fully understood and met. This question is not confined to the Irish context a set of recommendations at European level have been developed by stakeholders, including the RCNI, and are included in the recent Youth Sexual Aggression and Victimisation Report of 2013. When we live in a culture highly sensitised to protecting our children from the less-common 'stranger danger' and the older predator, it can leave the child being threatened and abused in other ways, for example, by a peer, isolated and vulnerable. Ireland is gaining a new understanding of these different experiences of sexual victimisation dependent on age and gender of the child. In general, it can be said, Irish child protection infrastructure is a response to the needs of the younger child. It therefore struggles to respond to the different nature and context of abuse of the teenage child. It is imperative to undertake a comprehensive review of Irish child protection infrastructure and services with regards to the older child. Three critical questions to stimulate discussion and engagement are: 1. How well informed are we about the older child's social realities? 2. Is our child protection infrastructure sufficiently joined up to ensure an appropriate response to teenagers who may experience abuse that more commonly reflects adult experiences than the younger child? 3. Does Ireland's child protection response need a specific 13 to 18 year old focused response? Details: Galway: Rape Crisis Network Ireland, 2014. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 28, 2014 at: http://www.rcni.ie/wp-content/uploads/Older-Child-Policy-Document-FINAL.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Ireland Keywords: Child Protection Shelf Number: 132004 |
Author: Drummond, Anne Title: Study on the Prevalence of Drug Use, Including Intravenous Drug Use, and Blood-Borne Viruses among the Irish Prisoner Population Summary: Accurate up-to-date data on the extent of drug use and the prevalence of blood-borne viruses among the prisoner population are a necessary pre-requisite for health and social service planning and policy development. The most recent national study assessing the prevalence of blood-borne viruses, along with self-reported drug use within Irish prisons (Allwright et al., 1999), was carried out over a decade ago. This study was commissioned by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) in 2010 with the following objectives: to describe the nature, extent and pattern of consumption for different drugs among the prisoner population; to describe methods of drug use, including intravenous drug use, among the prisoner population; to estimate the prevalence of blood-borne viruses among the prisoner population and to identify associated risk behaviours; and to measure the uptake of individual drug treatment and harm reduction interventions (including hepatitis B vaccination) in prison. Methods An observational cross-sectional study, targeting all prisons and prisoners in Ireland, was carried out in early 2011. Prisoners were selected at random in proportion to the population in each prison. A detailed, validated and piloted self-completion questionnaire was administered to prisoners under the supervision of the research team. Oral fluid samples were taken for assessment of drugs of abuse and blood-borne viruses. Overall 824 prisoners participated, with a final response rate of 49.5%. Results Results reveal lifetime, last year and last month prevalence rates for drug use that greatly exceed those of the general population but which are broadly consistent with findings from prison studies internationally. For example, lifetime cannabis use among all prisoners was 87%, last year use was 69% and last month use was 43%. Likewise, lifetime heroin use was 43%, last year use was 30% and last month use was 11%. Women were significantly more likely to use drugs, including injecting drugs. Despite there being a high prevalence (26%) of ever injecting drugs among prisoners, last month injecting prevalence was low (2%). Prevalence of HIV was 2%. Prevalence rates for hepatitis C (13%) and hepatitis B (0.3%) were lower than expected. By far the most important factors associated with blood-borne viruses in this prison population were ever having used drugs IV and ever having shared IV drug equipment. Older age and having had a tattoo done in prison were associated with hepatitis C. Female prisoners were at greater risk of having hepatitis C and HIV and male-to-male sexual contact was confirmed as a risk factor for HIV. The need for drug treatment and harm reduction services was identified in different prison categories, with a pattern of very high uptake of services when they are available. Summary This study confirms that drug use, including injecting drug use, is a significant problem among prisoners in Ireland and suggests that drug-related factors are important in the acquisition of blood-borne viruses. The findings also show that prisoners who need services, such as the range of addiction services and detoxification, are very willing to use them when they are available. 'In-prison' uptake of testing and vaccination services confirms that prisons are appropriate settings for the provision of preventive, diagnostic and treatment services for drug users. It is hoped that the evidence provided in this study will facilitate service and policy development in this important area. Details: Dublin: National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol, 2014. 126p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 3, 2014 at: http://www.nacd.ie/images/stories/docs/press/Full-Drug-use-among-Irish-prisoner-population.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Ireland Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Shelf Number: 132207 |
Author: Calderoni, Francesco Title: The Factbook on the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products 3 - Ireland Summary: This report is part of the project The Factbook on the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products (henceforth ITTP). The project has been developed by Transcrime after the Round Table on Proofing EU Regulation against the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products hosted by Universita Cattolica of Milan, on 5 May 2011. During the Round Table, participants (researchers and policymakers with experience in the field of the illicit trade in tobacco products) agreed on a research agenda concerning the ITTP (Transcrime 2011b). Items 3 and 6 of the research agenda focused on the need for better analysis of the tobacco market taking account of its dual nature (i.e. legal and illicit) and on how licit and illicit markets vary across different countries and regions. Given these considerations, Transcrime has developed the Factbook on the ITTP, a multi-annual research plan providing detailed analyses of the ITTP and of its relations with the legal market and other socioeconomic and political factors in a number of countries around the world. The aim of the Factbook is to provide an innovative instrument able to shed light on the complex mechanisms behind the ITTP in different countries. This report focuses on Ireland. Given the close geographical, social, economic and cultural connections, it also focuses, where appropriate, on Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom.1 Tobacco consumption is undoubtedly a danger for human health, and governments should carefully regulate the tobacco market. Illicit tobacco avoids state regulation and taxation and may jeopardize tobacco control policies. The Factbook will contribute to raising awareness about the global importance of the ITTP and about the strategies available to prevent it. The Factbook has been developed for a wide readership ranging from policymakers, through academics, to interested stakeholders, the intention being to provide a support to develop knowledge-based debates and policies on the ITTP. The information gathered for this report originates from academic literature, grey literature, open sources, questionnaires and interviews with experts and stakeholders. While there are some studies on the ITTP in Ireland, the data-gathering phase of the projects encountered major difficulties due to the number of sources, institutions and stakeholders involved. The results of the report do not claim to be exhaustive, nor an accurate reflection of criminal practices. They provide an initial assessment of the ITTP in Ireland and a starting point for future research. Details: Milan, IT: Transcrime, 2013. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 29, 2014 at: http://www.transcrime.it/pubblicazioni/the-factbook-on-the-illicit-trade-in-tobacco-products-3-ireland/ Year: 2013 Country: Ireland Keywords: Cigarette Smuggling Shelf Number: 132811 |
Author: Martyn, Michelle Title: Drug and Alcohol Misuse Among Adult Offenders on Probation Supervision in Ireland. Findings from the Drugs and Alcohol Survey 2011 Summary: This report presents the findings from the Drugs and Alcohol Survey 2011 conducted by the Probation Service. The report and its findings are based on the first large-scale, nationwide survey conducted by the Service in Ireland on drug and alcohol misuse among the adult offender population on probation supervision. The overall report comprises four separate sub-reports which are detailed in section 3. The survey involved a representative sample of 2,963 adult offenders on Probation Officers' caseloads on the 1st April 2011. A questionnaire was developed specifically for the purpose of the study. The questionnaires were completed by the supervising Probation Officers based on their knowledge of the offenders on their caseloads. The main objectives of the study were as follows: - Ascertain the number of adult offenders on probation supervision who misused drugs and/or alcohol - Examine the nature and frequency of drug and alcohol misuse - Establish if there is a correlation between drug and/or alcohol misuse and offending and offending behaviour - Identify the level and nature of engagement with drug and alcohol treatment services The report provides the key findings of the survey. The sub-reports in chapters 3-6 present specific findings in detail. The report concludes with a discussion of issues arising in the study which merit particular attention and consideration in the management of drug and alcohol misuse policy and practice in the Probation Service. Key Findings - 89% of the adult offender population on probation supervision had misused drugs or alcohol either 'currently' (at the time of the survey) or in the 'past'. - Of the 89% of those who misused either alcohol/drugs, 27% misused drugs only, 20% misused alcohol only and 42% misused both drugs and alcohol. - While females comprised only 12% of the adult offender population both male and female adult offenders exhibit similar drug and alcohol misuse levels. - The Dublin probation regions exhibited the highest levels of overall misuse among their offender populations at 91%. - Almost 21% of offenders were currently misusing two or more substances and over 9% were misusing at least 3 substances. This includes misuse of alcohol. - This study identified a considerable link between drug misuse and the current index offence committed. Based on the Probation Officers' professional judgment, for 74% of drug-misusing offenders on supervision misuse was linked to their current offending. - In previous research carried out by the Probation Service in the Dublin Metropolitan Area in 1998, 55-60% of offenders were drug abusers. This research highlights that drug misuse is prevalent among more than 75% of offenders on supervision nationwide. - Almost 36% of offenders in the 35+ age group misused drugs only. - The majority of current opiate misusers were male and between the ages of 18-34 at 63.8%. The majority of misusers of prescribed drugs were also males in the 18-34 age-group at 72.6%. However, notably 10% of the misusers were female in the 25-34 age-group. - The Dublin regions are proportionally highest for current opiate misuse, current prescription drugs and also current stimulant misuse. - Alcohol is the individual substance that is most commonly misused by offenders on probation supervision nationally. The misuse of 'alcohol only' is highest in the South West and the West, North West and Westmeath regions. - 33.5% of offenders identified as alcohol misusers were described as problematic at the time the survey was conducted. 79.7% were described as misusers in the past only. 27.1% were described as problematic misusers both currently and in the past. - 71% of alcohol-misusing offenders had their misuse linked to the current offence committed. - Drug-misuse linked to the offence is more pronounced in the younger age categories in this survey. Each of the age categories 18-24, 25-34 and 35-44 have in excess of 70% link to offending while the 45-54 and 55-64 age groups have a 50% or less link to offending. - The majority of drug-related offences were either for Drug Offences (31.8%) or acquisitive crimes such as Theft (32.8%). - The majority of alcohol related offences were crimes against the person and public order offences at almost 40%. - 41.7% of the total drug-misusing population was currently engaged in drug treatment services. - Half of the offenders within this survey had undergone drug treatment, in its various forms, in the past. - 72% of drug misusers were on methadone maintenance programmes Details: Meath: Irish Probation Service, 2012. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: Probation Service Research Report: Accessed August 14, 2014 at: http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/18746/1/Drug%2Band%2BAlcohol%2BMisuse%2Bamong%2BAdult%2BOffenders%2Bon%2BProbation%2BSupervision%2Bin%2BIreland.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Ireland Keywords: Alcohol Abuse Shelf Number: 133054 |
Author: EPS Consulting Title: Tackling the Black Market and Retail Crime Summary: Retail Ireland, in August 2012, published a major new report 'Tackling the Black Market and Retail Crime', which says the Exchequer is losing L861 million annually because of illegal black market activity and retail theft. The group said the recession had led to an increase in retail crime, including shoplifting, fuel smuggling and the sale of smuggled cigarettes, and called for a zero tolerance approach from the Gardai and courts. Key facts in the report include: - At least 12% of all diesel sold in Ireland is illegal. Since 2010, 19 oil laundries have been detected and closed, and 690,000 litres of oil seized - Figures on the size of the illegal tobacco market range from L250m upwards. - Attempts to import counterfeit goods increased by a quarter to 1277 from 2009 to 2010; 66853 counterfeit articles were intercepted in 2010 - Industry estimates that 770,000 individuals in Ireland have down-loaded music/films illegally, costing the industry and Exchequer millions - Ireland ranks 11th out of 22 countries in Europe for shop-lifting, with employee theft accounting for one-third, the highest rate in Europe Details: Dublin: Retail Ireland, 2012. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 14, 2014 at: http://www.ibec.ie/IBEC/Press/PressPublicationsdoclib3.nsf/vPages/Newsroom~black-market-costing-exchequer-E861-million-annually-20-08-2012/$file/Retail+Ireland+-+Tackling+the+Black+Market+and+retail+Crime.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Ireland Keywords: Counterfeit Goods Shelf Number: 133058 |
Author: Ireland. Probation Service Title: Probation Service Recidivism Study 2008-2013 Summary: The Probation Service and Central Statistics Office (CSO) have established a partnership to conduct research on recidivism and related issues among offenders on supervision in the community. This second study report is based on anonymised offender and offence information on a 2008 cohort of offenders from the Probation Service supervision database. The study reports on recidivism within three years among that cohort using five years follow up of recorded crime and Court Service data held by the CSO. The study also examines variations in recidivism relating to type of original order, gender and age of the offender, category of original offence and of the subsequent offence. This recidivism study provides a clear overview of community sanctions and their outcomes; informing the Service in the development and support of effective interventions in working to make our communities safer. Key Findings - Almost 60% of offenders on Probation Service supervision had no conviction for a further offence committed within three years of the imposition of a Probation or Community Service order. - The overall recidivism rate of offenders in the study was 41% over a three year period. - There is a higher level of re-offending in the first year after the making of the supervision order in comparison with subsequent years within the 2008 cohort. The reduction between first and second year was more significant in the 2007 cohort. - The recidivism rate decreased as the offender age increased. - Male offenders represented 87% of the total population and had a higher recidivism rate than female offenders. - Public Order was the most common original offence. - The three most common offences for which offenders were reconvicted were the same as with the 2007 cohort: Public Order, Theft and Controlled Drugs Offences. Details: Dublin: The Probation Service, 2013. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Probation Service Research Report 4: Accessed August 14, 2014 at: http://www.probation.ie/website/probationservice/websitepublishingdec09.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/Probation+Service+Recidivism+Study+2008-2013/$FILE/Probation+Service+Recidivism+Study+2008-2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Ireland Keywords: Offender Supervision Shelf Number: 133059 |
Author: Horgan, John Title: Drug and Alcohol Misuse Among Young Offenders on Probation Supervision in Ireland: Findings from the Drugs and Alcohol Survey 2012 Summary: This research report presents the findings from a national survey on: "Drug and Alcohol Misuse among Young Offenders on Probation Supervision in Ireland". Undertaken by the Probation Service, the survey included all young offenders, aged 20 years or less who were subject to statutory supervision on the 3rd December 2012. For the purposes of the survey, the following interventions by the Probation Service were not included under the definition of supervision: - Offenders in custody - Offenders only subject to community service orders - Offenders only referred for an assessment report - Offenders aged 21 years and over (i.e. born on or after Dec. 5th 1991) From the Probation Service data base (Case Tracking System) it was expected that the total population meeting the criteria would be 808. Questionnaires were in fact returned on 721 offenders. This 88% rate of return is comparatively high for mailed questionnaires. Of the 721 offenders on whom questionnaires were returned, 628 were identified by the Probation Officer as having misused at least one substance. This report describes the key findings from the survey and consists of four main chapters, reflecting the key objectives which were, to: - Determine the number of young offenders under probation supervision who had misused drugs and/or alcohol (Chapter 3) - Investigate the nature and frequency of drug and alcohol misuse (Chapter 3) - To examine the context within which drug and alcohol misuse occurred (Chapter 4) - To ascertain whether a relationship exists between drug misuse and offending behaviour and alcohol misuse and offending behaviour (Chapter 5) - To identify the range and nature of engagement with drug and alcohol treatment services (Chapter 6) The report concludes with a discussion of the survey's findings. The discussion explores options for more effective engagement with young offenders to promote desistance and divert young people from the criminal justice system. Details: Dublin: Ireland Probation Service, 2013. Source: Internet Resource: Probation Service Research Report 3: Accessed August 14, 2014 at: http://www.probation.ie/website/probationservice/websitepublishingdec09.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/Drug+and+alcohol+misuse+among+young+offenders++October+2013/$FILE/Drug+and+alcohol+misuse+among+young+offenders++October+2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Ireland Keywords: Alcohol Abuse Shelf Number: 133060 |
Author: Grant Thornton Title: Illicit Trade in Ireland: Uncovering the cost to the Irish economy Summary: Although frequently thought of as a victimless crime, illicit trade has a significant impact on the Irish economy. The objective of this report is to provide a detailed assessment of illicit trade in Ireland across a select number of sectors, namely fuel, tobacco, digital media and pharmaceuticals. With regard to each of these sectors, the report seeks to understand the impacts, identify key drivers behind these illicit trades, and where possible, quantifies the losses to the economy. Ultimately this report proposes an integrated approach to tackling the problem of illicit trade in Ireland. What is illicit trade? The most common definition of illicit trade is that used by the World Health Organisation (WHO) which covers many different areas that go beyond the scope of this report. These include money laundering, cash transaction, human trafficking and the trade in illegal drugs. Within the context of this report, the term "illicit trade" is more narrowly defined as: - Intellectual Property Crime (IPC); - Contraband; and - Illegal manufacturing. Importance of intellectual property It is widely accepted that the recognition of Intellectual Property ("IP") plays a vital role in promoting innovation and stimulating the economy in order to foster growth. Therefore, it is vital that appropriate legal recognition, public policies and enforcement is in place to ensure that IP and brands are protected. Illicit Trade in Ireland Despite the importance of IP rights and an increased emphasis on IP protection, significant levels of illicit trade remain in operation throughout the Irish economy. Illicit Trade in Ireland is not confined to a single industry but is present in a broad spectrum of activity across the Irish economy. The scale and scope of illicit trade in Ireland has resulted in significant losses to the Irish economy. The losses suffered include a number of important stakeholders such as right holders, retailers, consumers, the Government and the wider economy. Whilst almost every area of the general economy is subject to losses as a result of illicit trade, this report has narrowed its focus to a number of core areas which are having the most detrimental effect on the Irish economy. To address any problem, the first step should be to understand the problem and in this report we have attempted to do just this. The estimates that we have provided in this report show that illicit trade could be costing right holders as much as L547m per annum and the Irish Exchequer as much as L937m per annum. Details: Dublin: Retail Ireland, 2013. 73p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 14, 2014 at: http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/media/committees/jobsenterpriseandinnovation/Illicit-Trade-in-Ireland-report.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Ireland Keywords: Contraband Shelf Number: 133069 |
Author: Costello, Liza Title: Travellers in the Irish Prison System: A Qualitative Study Summary: Over recent years, the Irish Penal Reform Trust (iprt) has become increasingly aware that very little has been documented about the experiences of Travellers in the Irish prison system, while evidence that has emerged from the UK gives cause for concern. Reports by the Irish Chaplaincy in Britain, the Scotland Equality and Human Rights Commission, the (then) Commission for Racial Equality and others have all revealed a wide range of issues that disproportionately affect Travellers in prison. These include racist abuse from other prisoners and prison officers, discrimination, lack of literacy, high rates of suicide, substance misuse, and often the strength of Traveller family ties not being recognised, leading to isolation, self-harm and even suicide. In 2011, the UN Committee Against Torture's Concluding Observations to Ireland suggested that such issues were not unique to the UK context. In this document, it expressed concern "at reports of allegations by prisoners from the Traveller community in Cork prison that they are consistently subjected to acts of intimidation by other prisoners" and recommended that the State address "the issue of intimidation of the Traveller community and investigat[e] all allegations of such intimidation". The aim of this research is to illuminate the experiences and needs of Travellers in prison. Its objectives are to: - present what is already known regarding Travellers in prison; - analyse the rights of Travellers in prison from an equality and human rights perspective; - conduct primary research into the needs and experiences of Travellers in the Irish prison system; - highlight models of good practice in meeting the needs of minority ethnic groups in prison; and - to make relevant evidence-based recommendations to the Irish Prison Service and other relevant bodies. Details: Dublin: Irish Penal Reform Trust, 2014. 77p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 23, 2014 at; http://www.iprt.ie/files/IPRT_Travellers_Report_web.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Ireland Keywords: Discrimination Shelf Number: 133122 |
Author: Rape Crisis Network Ireland Title: Asylum Seekers and Refugees Surviving on Hold: Sexual Violence Disclosed to Rape Crisis Centres Summary: Asylum seekers and refugees are among the most vulnerable and marginalised groups of survivors attending Rape Crisis Centres in Ireland. The Irish State has an obligation under international human rights instruments to ensure that refugee and asylum seeker survivors of sexual violence are protected from discrimination and have access to care. Ensuring that RCCs have adequate funds to deliver equal and accessible care to refugees and asylum seekers facilitates the state in meeting these obligations. The long-term savings to the state and benefits of providing this funding should not be overlooked, as research has proven that long-term physical and mental health problems caused by the trauma of sexual violence lead to a greater dependence on health services for survivors and reduced productivity. The positive impact of RCC support on the lives of survivors accessing them has already been documented in Rape & Justice in Ireland, where survivors reported significant improvements in their psychological recovery, which is likely to lead to reduced usage of health services in the long-term and greater productivity. The over 40% decrease in numbers of this client group accessing RCCs between 2011 and 2012 is indicative of the significant barriers they face in taking up such supports. Amongst other factors, it is also indicative of the year on year cuts to RCC funding and RCCs subsequent ability to reach out with supports to this already marginalised group. Improving access requires funding to provide transportation, interpreters, and other material supports needed for asylum seekers to effectively engage with counselling. This report provides clear evidence that significant reforms are urgently necessary in the Direct Provision system to halt the risk of sexual violence to vulnerable residents and minimise the psychological harm to survivors. Details: Galway: Rape Crisis Network Ireland, 2014. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 25, 2014 at: http://www.rcni.ie/wp-content/uploads/RCNI-Asylum-Seekers-and-Refugees-Surviving-on-Hold.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Ireland Keywords: Asylum Seekers (Ireland) Shelf Number: 134236 |
Author: Connolly, Johnny. Title: Illicit Drug Markets in Ireland Summary: Understanding the organisation, scale, nature and dynamics of illicit drug markets is a critical requirement for effective policy-making and for interventions designed to disrupt their operation and to minimise the associated harms. Through in-depth research with people involved in the illicit drug market in Ireland, as drug users or sellers, as professionals responding to it or as residents affected by it, this research fills a significant knowledge gap in this important area of Irish drug policy. The study objectives were to: - Examine the various factors that can influence the development of local drug markets. - Examine the nature, organisation and structure of Irish drug markets. - Examine the impact of drug-dealing and drug markets on local communities. - Describe and assess interventions in drug markets with a view to identifying what further interventions are needed. Details: Dublin: National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol (NACDA), 2014. 328p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 7, 2015 at: http://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/NACDA-report-on-Illicit-drugs-markets-in-Ireland-Oct-14.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Ireland Keywords: Drug Abuse and Crime Shelf Number: 134566 |
Author: Connolly, Johnny. Title: Crack cocaine in the Dublin Region: An evidence base for a crack cocaine strategy Summary: Crack cocaine is produced from powder cocaine using readily available chemical agents such as ammonia or baking soda. Smoking crack is a highly efficient way of getting cocaine into the brain, making its use compulsive and difficult to control in some cases. In early 2005, a number of seizures of crack cocaine were made by An Garda Siochana in Dublin's north-inner city. In addition, there were anecdotal reports of individuals using crack cocaine in Dublin. As a result, the Intersectoral Crack Cocaine Strategy Group (ISCCSG) was established in the north-inner city in March 2006. The group decided to document the nature and extent of crack use; the availability of crack; the impact of crack on the user, the family and the wider community; and current treatment and policing responses to crack use. The Alcohol and Drug Research Unit (ADRU) of the Health Research Board (HRB) was commissioned to complete the study using a rapid situation assessment method. The study involved a review of findings from relevant research, the collection and analysis of up-to-date drug-treatment and criminal justice data, and interviews and focus groups with crack users, service providers and the Garda National Drugs Unit. The study received ethical approval in August 2007. Details: Dublin: Health Research Board, 2008. 142p. Source: Internet Resource: HRB Research Series 6: Accessed February 9, 2015 at: http://www.hrb.ie/uploads/tx_hrbpublications/HRB_Research_Series_6.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Ireland Keywords: Crack Cocaine (Ireland) Shelf Number: 113022 |
Author: Irish Penal Reform Trust Title: Human Rights of Children deprived of Liberty: Improving Monitoring Mechanisms Summary: This report aims to provide a comprehensive picture of the legislative and policy landscape relating to the detention of children in Ireland, and the complaints and monitoring mechanisms available to them. The research was carried out in line with instructions provided by the DCI Project Co-ordinator and using questionnaires and templates provided by DCI. Desk-based research was used to undertake a review of detention in Ireland, to gather all available information and statistics and to pull together the research and other information in the area. One-to-one interviews with ten key stakeholders working with and on behalf of detained children in Ireland were carried out to supplement the secondary analysis. These included senior policy makers, those managing and working in detention centres, those responsible for inspection and complaints bodies and in the NGO community. This approach was used to document responses to the recommendations of the monitoring bodies and to identify obstacles both to the realisation of these recommendations and to the ratification of OPCAT. The number and identity of interviewees was finalised in consultation with IPRT and the DCI Project Co-ordinator. Ethical approval for this phase of the research was granted by the Social Research Ethics Committee of University College Cork. Separate ethical approval was granted for two focus groups with young people detained within the Children Detention Schools, which was used to ensure that the research was informed by the views and experiences of young people in detention, to identify further elements of good practice and areas which needed improvement in complaints and monitoring practice. Details: Brussels: Children's Rights Behind Bars; Dublin: Irish Penal Reform Trust, 2014. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 12, 2015 at: http://www.childrensrightsbehindbars.eu/images/national-reports-2014/IRELAND%20FINAL%20REPORT.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Ireland Keywords: Juvenile Detention Shelf Number: 134606 |
Author: Irish Prison Service Title: Community Return: A Unique Opportunity. A descriptive evaluation of the first twenty six months (2011 - 2013) Summary: In October 2011, the Probation Service, in partnership with the Irish Prison Service, commenced a pilot Community Return Programme. The Community Return Programme is an incentivised early release scheme introduced in line with the recommendations of the Thornton Hall Project Review Group. All participants have demonstrated their willingness and ability to co-operate with the prison regime and to engage with the therapeutic services available. Community Return is a novel and unique initiative combining unpaid work for the benefit of the community with early release and resettlement support. In its development, no equivalent or similar initiative could be identified anywhere in the world and none had been reported in academic reviews or criminal justice literature. In the Community Return Programme, qualifying prisoners may be released early from their custodial sentences, with a period of unpaid community work as a condition of their incentivised, structured and reviewable temporary release. The Community Return Programme pilot, between October 2011 and April 2012, proved to be very successful in assessed compliance with the conditions of the release and behaviour, and in terms of the very low level of reconviction of participants. The success of the pilot led to the programme being mainstreamed. The aim of this research study is to assess the operation, impact, and effectiveness of the Community Return programme through a piece of descriptive and evaluative research. The study cohort comprised all 761 Community Return Programme participants between October 2011 and December 31st 2013. A mixed methods approach was used in the study, as well as analysis of anonymised pre-existing data on participants held by the Irish Prison Service. Questionnaires were completed by relevant Irish Prison Service and Probation Service personnel. The Community Return Programme participants were predominantly male, with females comprising approximately 6% of the population on the programme. 77% of the population were aged between 21 and 40, with the greatest concentration in both genders (43%) in the ten year age group between 21 and 30 years. - 62% of Community Return Programme participants were from Leinster. 43% of all participants were from Dublin. Of the total population who commenced the Community Return Programme, approximately 53% were located in three major urban areas (Dublin, Cork and Limerick). - Of the 761 offenders who commenced the Community Return Programme, (90%) were serving custodial sentences of less than six years. 45% were serving sentences of between two and four years imprisonment. The average sentence length was 3.2 years - 40% of Community Return Programme participants had been convicted on drug offences. 16% had been convicted in respect of offences including assaults and related offending. 9% were convicted of offences including robbery and related offences. - 38% of participants were released from open prisons, Shelton Abbey and Loughan House, while Mountjoy Prison was the closed prison with the highest release rate at 11%. The high percentage of prisoners released onto the Community Return programme from open prisons reflects the Irish Prison Service Incentivised Regime policy in practice and the pre-release role of open prisons. - Of the 761 participants who had commenced the Community Return Programme between October 2011 and December 31st 2013, 548 had completed it and 108 were still in progress. 88, approximately 11%, breached conditions of the Community Return Programme and were returned to custody. Almost 89% had either successfully completed their Community Return Programme or were still working on the Programme. Of those participants (n =233) released during the first year of the programme, 91% had not been committed to prison on a new custodial sentence in the period up to the end of 2013. - 9,580 weeks of Community Return Programme work, comprising 201,056 hours unpaid work, was completed by participants. Based on the national minimum wage in 2014 for an adult worker of L8.65 per hour, this represents L1,739,135 worth of unpaid work completed for the community by Community Return participants. - The most common types of work undertaken by Community Return Programme participants were landscaping/gardening, painting/decorating and renovation, with participants preferring work which allowed them to see 'a job through from beginning to end rather than constant switching between jobs'. Supervisors reported that Community Return Programme participants performed positively in their work and displayed a positive attitude towards the work. - Over 80% of community based Probation Officers attributed Community Return Programme participant compliance primarily to a desire to avoid returning to prison. In some cases this was complemented by secondary motivational factors such as participant enjoyment of the work experience, appreciation of their early release or, a sense of commitment to the Community Return contract. - Access to social protection entitlements ('social welfare') was the single biggest difficulty faced by Community Return participants involved in this study following their release, affecting one third of participants. According to participant feedback, difficulties appear to have stemmed from an apparent lack of a shared understanding regarding access to income maintenance payments by Community Return participants. - The Community Return Programme participants identified particular benefits in the Programme, including the structure and routine which aided re-integration, the work ethic and self-esteem developed, their positive profile in working in the community and the learning of work skills transferable to employment. Challenges included coping with the strictness and frequency of the signing-on conditions, difficulties accessing entitlements and payments, and time and costs in travelling to worksites. - The Community Return Programme helped participants stay out of trouble according to some of them, by keeping them occupied, providing positive supports and a starting point to build on, particularly in the early stages after release, when, according to research here and abroad, newly released prisoners are particularly vulnerable to relapse to anti-social behaviour, companions and offending. The Community Return Programme has potential for further expansion and detailed recommendations are outlined in Chapter 7. Details: Longford, IE: Irish Prisons Service; Dublin: Irish Probation Service, 2014. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Probation Service Research Report 5: Accessed February 12, 2015 at: http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Community_Return_Study_Report_v3_9.pdf/Files/Community_Return_Study_Report_v3_9.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Ireland Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration (Ireland) Shelf Number: 134613 |
Author: Rape Crisis Network Ireland Title: Hearing child survivors of sexual violence: Towards a national response Summary: As children are among the most vulnerable in society, through their dependence on adults and limited access to resources they are often incapable or face considerable difficulty communicating needs and having those needs met. This report seeks to identify those needs more clearly in relation to sexual violence and provide information about child sexual violence learned from child survivors who access services. This information can be used by adults and statutory actors to respond to and support vulnerable children. Globally, 7% of boys and 14% of girls under the age of 18 are subjected to forced sexual intercourse and other forms of violence involving touch (Pinheiro, 2006). In Ireland, the SAVI report revealed that 30% of women and 24% of men experienced some form of sexual abuse before the age of 17 (McGee et.al. 2002). Despite this vulnerability to multiple forms of abuse and violence, children are often disadvantaged in seeking support and redress for sexual crimes. Research in Ireland and internationally has identified that children subjected to sexual violence often do not disclose the abuse to anyone or delay disclosure until decades after the abuse has ended (McGee et.al. 2002; McElvany, 2008). Furthermore, even when children do disclose incidents of sexual violence, services may be inadequate or inaccessible. The CARI Foundation has stated that, "services for children affected by sexual abuse across the country are patchy and inadequate and much less developed than those for adults who were abused in their childhood" (2011). An important factor in the coherence and development of services is that the "the lack of comprehensive research and disaggregated data concerning sexual violence makes it difficult to clearly define the problem" (Moreno, 2010). The RCNI statistical database seeks to address this gap through the provision of high quality data on child survivors of sexual abuse. This information not only defines the problem but is essential in developing strategies and solutions to support survivors and reduce the risk of sexual violence against children. In this RCNI report, data relating to survivors under the age of 18 utilising RCC and CARI services in 2012 are examined. RCCs usually provide services to survivors from the age of 14, while CARI provides services to all children. The report presents previously unexamined data from these centres and includes information about the 192 child survivors, accounting for 220 incidents of sexual violence against children, who accessed services from CARI or an RCC in 2012. Child survivors represent a small subset of the total number of survivors of child sexual abuse that access services from RCCs or CARI. As incidents of sexual violence are often disclosed years later, certain types of incidents, perpetrators, and survivors may be omitted from the child survivor sample that are evident within a larger sample that includes adult survivors of child sexual abuse. In order to address this, and to reveal significant disparities between child service users and all service users who experienced incidences of child sexual violence, the child survivor sample is compared to the general sample of survivors of child sexual violence. Where significant differences exist, they are discussed within the report. Details: Galway: Rape Crisis Network Ireland, 2013. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 26, 2015 at: http://www.rcni.ie/wp-content/uploads/Hearing-Child-Survivors-of-Sexual-Violence-2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Ireland Keywords: Child Pornography Shelf Number: 134683 |
Author: Migrant Rights Centre Ireland Title: Life in the Shadows: An Exploration of Irregular Migration in Ireland Summary: Irregular migration is a complex and diverse phenomenon. There are no accurate estimates of the number of people involved in irregular migration. Despite increasingly far-reaching measures to combat it, irregular migration will continue to be an inevitable by-product of migration policies and practices. Deregulation and liberalisation of the global economy has generated a heightened demand for mobile labour. All too often irregular migrants are identified as a cheap, dispensable, unlimited source of labour. Irregular migration poses very real social, economic and political challenges for states, as well as exposing migrants themselves to insecurity and exploitation. While acknowledging the right of states to manage migration, the human rights of all members of society, including irregular migrants, must be respected. Policies, practices and public statements that seek to criminalise and demonise irregular migrants must be avoided. This requires political leadership and sensitive handling by all the key societal institutions, in particular political parties, trade unions, media and education bodies. We need to be sensitive to the gender dimension, and the fact that the impact and barriers may be different for women and men who are undocumented migrants. We should also be careful about the language we use. Human beings should not be classified as 'illegal aliens' which is a regrettable tendency currently in the United States. Irregular migrants enjoy the protection of fundamental human rights as enshrined in a range of international conventions and covenants. These rights include non-discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, sex, language, religion or social origin; the right to life; the prohibition of torture, slavery and servitude; the right to recognition before the law, and freedom of thought, conscience and religion. These rights must be realised in practice, and respected in the operation of societal institutions. Too often rights such as health care and access to justice are denied, thus undermining the principles of human rights and equality on which modern democracies are founded. This report is the first of its kind in Ireland and makes for thought-provoking and unsettling reading. The report highlights the reality that most irregular migrants become undocumented through no fault of their own. This is consistent with international research, and raises questions regarding the effectiveness of traditional policy responses such as tighter border controls and employer sanctions. Migrants living and working in an irregular status are clearly one of the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in Irish society today. Ireland prides itself on its track record in promoting human rights across the globe. We are now challenged to respond to the situation of undocumented and irregular migrants in Ireland in a way that is consistent with our human rights commitments. Details: Dublin: Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, 2007. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 16, 2015 at:http://mrci.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Life-in-the-Shadows_an-Exploration-of-Irregular-Migration-in-Ireland.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Ireland Keywords: Immigration (Ireland) Shelf Number: 134926 |
Author: Ireland. Central Statistics Office Title: Prison Recidivism: 2008 cohort Summary: The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has published figures on recidivism rates among prisoners released from custody of the Irish Prison Service in 2008. The CSO used a combination of data from both An Garda Siochana and the Irish Prison Service in compiling these figures. The data looks at both the rate of re-offending ('recidivism') and the total numbers of people who have re-offended within three years of release in the year 2008 (the '2008 cohort'), with comparisons to equivalent data on re-offending among those released in 2007 ('2007 cohort'). Overall, the rate of recidivism has fallen from 55.3% for the '2008 cohort' to 51% among the '2007 cohort'. The document includes details of the type of offences the offenders committed originally and what type of offence they committed in the subsequent three year period from release in 2008. Furthermore, there is a breakdown of data on recidivism, with categories such as gender, age, initial offence type, and time period until subsequent offence. The IPRT welcomes the publication of this data, which helps to inform evidence-based penal policy. Coordination of data collection and research across all the criminal justice agencies is hugely important to the development of such policy. However, there are some points of concern arising from this data. The trend shows that recidivism is highest among young male offenders under the age of 21, at 57.7%, with lower rates in each subsequent age group. This is in line with academic research which demonstrates that offending rates naturally decrease with age. In addition, a large proportion of subsequent offences happen within a short time span after release (64.2% of all recidivists re-offend within 6 months of release, rising to 87.9% of male recidivists under 21). Further research and resources must be directed towards diversion of young males away from criminality, especially in the first few months after release. Details: Dublin: Central Statistics Office, 2013. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 6, 2015 at: http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/releasespublications/documents/crimejustice/2008/prisonrecidivism2008.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Ireland Keywords: Prisoner Rehabilitation Shelf Number: 135530 |
Author: Costello, Liza Title: Turnaround Youth: Young Adults (18-24) in the Criminal Justice System. The case for a distinct approach Summary: This report gathers together the significant existing body of international research that demonstrates that several factors place young adults more at risk of becoming involved in offending behaviour and make the prison system an inappropriate and counterproductive means of dealing with young adults. Key findings in the report: - Young adults are more amenable to rehabilitation and change than older adults who commit the same crimes; - The brain and maturity continue to develop beyond adolescence and into one's mid-twenties - the right interventions can support desistance but the wrong interventions can deepen offending behaviour; - Young adults aged 18-24 are disproportionately represented in the prison population: 20% of prison population compared with 9% of general population; - Young adults aged 18-24s have highest rates of reoffending on release from prison (68% compared with 53%) - Interventions and good practice that have proven successful in the youth justice system should be extended to young adults aged 18-24; - Supervised bail support, diversion programmes, intensive community orders, and restorative justice practices are among the more effective responses to crimes committed by young adults. Details: Belfast: Irish Penal Reform Trust, 2015. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 14, 2015 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/IPRT-Turnaround-web-optimised.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Ireland Keywords: At-risk Youth Shelf Number: 135646 |
Author: Ireland. Department of Justice and Law Reform Title: Organised and White Collar Crime Summary: The purpose of this paper is to examine a range of criminal activity not covered in detail by the White Paper on Crime discussion documents produced to date. The emphasis in the earlier papers, and in the first paper in particular, was largely on volume or 'street crimes' such as assault, theft and public order offences. These impact greatly on individuals and communities in an immediate and obvious fashion and are often to the forefront in debates on crime. Other types of criminal activity may appear to be less frequent but undoubtedly cause serious harm and must be confronted as part of an overall crime strategy. This paper will examine these by looking at organised or 'gangland' crime, as well as white-collar crime and a range of other complex types of criminal activity. The specific areas covered in detail are: drug trafficking fraud (including fiscal fraud) human smuggling and trafficking money laundering counterfeiting and piracy cybercrime tackling white collar crime bribery and corruption regulatory crime These types of crime can often attract organised criminals, but can also involve individuals, companies or very ad hoc groups. While there are interconnections between several of these fields, each gives rise to its own discrete issues and law enforcement responses. The various activities examined are diverse but have the common characteristic of being complex or requiring a high degree of organisation, in contrast to a great deal of volume crime. In light of their complexity, the crime control response to these offences typically involves additional strategies over and above those used in traditional law enforcement. A further feature of these crimes is that they are rapidly evolving and increasingly enabled by new technologies. Accordingly, an important objective in this discussion document is to seek to identify emerging trends with a view to ensuring that the White Paper on Crime anticipates future challenges as far as possible. Details: Dublin: Department of Justice and Law Reform, 2010. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: White Paper on Crime: Discussion Document No. 3: http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/White%20Paper%20on%20Crime%20Discussion%20Document%20No.%203%20-%20Organised%20and%20White%20Collar%20Crime.pdf/Files/White%20Paper%20on%20Crime%20Discussion%20Document%20No.%203%20-%20Organised%20and%20White%20Collar%20Crime.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Ireland Keywords: Organized Crime Shelf Number: 136159 |
Author: Grant Thornton Title: Illicit Trade: An Irish and Global Challenge Summary: The growing threat of illicit trade and intellectual property crime is a real issue for the international community. This report focuses on the challenges currently facing both the Irish and international community across a number of different areas. Ultimately this report puts forth a number of key recommendations to help address these challenges. The specific focus has been on the areas of intellectual property crime, cybercrime, money laundering and retail. Details: Dublin: Retail Ireland, 2015. 74p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 25, 2015 at: http://lovemovies.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Grant-Thornton-Illicit-Trade-Report-2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Ireland Keywords: Contraband Shelf Number: 136579 |
Author: Ireland. Department of Justice and Equality Title: Report on the Cash for Gold Trade Summary: Over the past 3 years there has been a significant increase in the number of cash for gold outlets established in towns and cities in the State and a significant amount of advertising for the direct mailing of gold to such outlets or to dedicated postal cash for gold entities. There has also been a significant level of concern expressed by public representatives on behalf of constituents concerned about burglaries of gold items and the possible link to the proliferation of the 'cash for gold' outlets. These concerns have been reflected in negative media coverage of the activities of these outlets with much of this focused on speculation as to the source of the gold being purchased. It would appear that most gold offered to these outlets is paid for on a scrap value basis and items are smelted and recycled. Established jewellers also buy gold and jewellery for cash. The increase is probably due to the very high price that gold now commands on international markets (up to $1700 / ounce recently), and the cash for gold concept would appear to be an international phenomenon. Part of the attraction of these outlets may be accounted for by the recession which is providing an opportunity for people to convert old gold into cash. Details: Dublin: Department of Justice and Equality, 2012. 19p., app. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 26, 2015 at: http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/20120619-Report%20on%20the%20Cash%20for%20Gold%20trade.pdf/Files/20120619-Report%20on%20the%20Cash%20for%20Gold%20trade.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Ireland Keywords: Burglary Shelf Number: 136596 |
Author: Rush, Michael Title: The Nature and Impact of Joy-Riding in Priorswood Summary: Public concern about joy-riding and car crime is hugely variable. In recent months, the riots in the suburbs of Paris - which involved hundreds of cars being burnt out on a nightly basis - generated widespread alarm, and prompted far-reaching debates about the links between social cohesion, social exclusion and crime. Meanwhile in communities throughout Ireland, the regular, almost nightly occurrence of young people burning 'robbed cars' in front of appreciative audiences goes, in the absence of a fatality, unreported. Once a fatality occurs the young people involved are portrayed as hyenas and pariahs amidst public uproar. Shortly afterwards, the media attention dies down and the joy-riding and car-burning returns with customary regularity as a nightly occurrence played out before local spectators. It is however a nightly occurrence which impacts in profoundly negative ways on the quality of life of entire neighbourhoods, whose residents are faced with the nocturnal public spectacle of joy-riding and who awake to the squalor of burnt-out vehicles outside their homes. It also brings the risk of serious injury and death, and absorbs huge financial resources. Details: Dublin: School of Applied Social Science and the School of Sociology, University College Dublin, 2006. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 11, 2015 at: http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/14907/1/mulcahy_joyridingthereport.pdf Year: 2006 Country: Ireland Keywords: Antisocial Behavior Shelf Number: 136713 |
Author: Healy, D. Title: Crime, Punishment and Inequality in Ireland Summary: The linkages between crime, punishment, policing and inequality are multifaceted. There is good empirical evidence that certain types of offending, especially homicide, are positively correlated with inequality. In addition a theoretical argument can be made to the effect that inequality creates opportunities for the kinds of corporate and white collar misconduct which, even if not criminal in a narrow legal sense, have far-reaching and damaging social repercussions. For example, the enormous scale of reckless lending, balance sheet manipulation and cynical underestimation by Irish banks will place a greater financial burden on this country's taxpayers than the harms wrought by generations of robbers, burglars and thieves. Other countries caught up in the financial crises that defined the end of the first decade of the twenty-first century will have similar experiences. An exaggerated emphasis on financial success, to the virtual exclusion of other markers of achievement, becomes problematic in a context where there are few restraints on the means chosen to increase wealth. Traditional modes of crime prevention and control have proved insufficiently flexible to deal with a new category of harms perpetrated by a new class of offender; investigating financial malpractice requires new tools and new models of criminal justice. Details: Amsterdam: Amsterdams Instituut voor Arbeids Studies (AIAS), Universiteit van Amsterdam , 2013. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: GINI Discussion Paper 93: Accessed September 11, 2015 at: http://www.uva-aias.net/uploaded_files/publications/93-4-5-4.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Ireland Keywords: Financial Crimes Shelf Number: 136714 |
Author: Irish Penal Reform Trust Title: Bail and Remand Summary: This Position Paper examines both the adult and juvenile schemes relating to bail and remand in Ireland, and examines the special rights which apply to people detained on remand in prison. IPRT believes any reform of domestic bail law requires careful consideration of applicable due process principles, constitutional implications and international human rights obligations, both universal and regional. The paper should be read alongside the IPRT Submission on General Scheme of the Bail Bill 2015 (Sept 2015). Details: Dublin: Irish Penal Reform Trust, 2015. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: IPRT Position Paper 11: Accessed November 24, 2015 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/IPRT_Position_Paper_11_on_Bail_and_Remand_sml.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Ireland Keywords: Bail Shelf Number: 137318 |
Author: Irish Penal Reform Trust Title: The Vicious Circle of Social Exclusion and Crime: Ireland's Disproportionate Punishment of the Poor Summary: The purpose of this Position Paper is to emphasise the complex matrix between social exclusion and crime, in order to impress on policy makers that an effective response to crime must, at the front end, involve investment in early intervention to combat social and educational disadvantage to prevent vulnerable young people embarking on criminality in the first instance. At the back end - i.e. post imprisonment - appropriate measures should be put in place to reintegrate ex-prisoners back into society, including comprehensive assistance with housing and work or training, for the benefit of the individuals themselves, as well as the communities to which they are returning. Details: Dublin: IPRT, 2012. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 10, 2016 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/Position_Paper_FINAL.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Ireland Keywords: At-risk Youth Shelf Number: 137835 |
Author: Manning, Colin Title: Old Laws, New Crime: Challenges of Prosecuting Cybercrime in Ireland Summary: Developments in the law often lag behind social and technological changes. Some areas of the law, such as contract law, have adapted elegantly to technological developments. Criminal law, however, is less adaptable since the courts must interpret statutes more strictly. The traditional approach to cybercrime views computer related crimes as recent incarnations of existing crimes. Such approach is understandable since it firmly roots the law in familiar territory. But extending the reach of existing law and existing legal concepts my eventually stretch them beyond the point where they continue to be appropriate. Determination to address cybercrime entirely within pre-existing legal concepts may result in legislation that especially broad or vague. It may also generate statutes poorly adapted to the peculiarities of the technology. More importantly, however, this approach may result in delayed recognition of entirely new categories of crime. Details: Cork: Cork Institute of Technology, 2016. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 22, 2016 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2729204 Year: 2016 Country: Ireland Keywords: Computer Crimes Shelf Number: 137924 |
Author: Mc Hugh, Rosemarie Title: Tracking the Needs and Service Provision for Women Ex-Prisoners Summary: This paper presents the findings of research conducted with female prisoners serving short sentences in the Dochas Centre. The research focussed in particular on the needs of this cohort of women upon leaving prison. 16 women were interviewed within the Dochas Centre; the study was primarily a qualitative one which aimed to understand the subjective experiences of the women and communicate their stories by giving primacy to the women's own 'voices'. Findings While each individual woman's story is unique there were significant patterns across the group. The profile of the group and the women's individual recounts of their life histories and experiences demonstrate a high incidence of deprivation, disadvantage, vulnerability and marginalisation. In this study this marginalisation was characterised by some or more of the following - unstable family backgrounds, care outside the home, homelessness, poor schooling, early engagement with the criminal justice system, childhood sexual abuse, intimate partner abuse, other sexual and physical abuse, little or no employment history, substance abuse, inability to care for their children, hospitalisation and treatment units, and significant mental and emotional health needs. The majority of women had little or no formal educational qualifications and little or no histories of employment, with social welfare being the main source of income for the vast majority of women. 14 of the 16 women had experienced homelessness at some point in their lives with the vast majority experiencing repeat incidences of homelessness. 13 of the 16 women had a substance abuse problem at some stage in their lives, often commencing at an early age, with many having long term substance abuse problems. Three quarters of the women had experienced violence or abuse of some form either as a child or as an adult, with three quarters of these, in turn, experiencing repeat victimisation. The women also revealed significant mental and emotional health needs including a high incidence of depression. This study also found that these women demonstrated a resource-poor network. This was demonstrable within the women's stories by the low level of contact with family members and the low volume, frequency and expectation of visits while imprisoned. It was also demonstrable in the lack of knowledge of supports available within the community and the fact that many referred to learning about available services and feeling more supported within the prison. Many of the women had extensive engagement with the criminal justice system from an early age and over a long period of time. However, the majority of crimes were low level addiction related crimes - theft, public order and drug offences. The majority identified themselves primarily as addicts as opposed to offenders and described their offending histories as inherently tied to their addictions, suggesting a sense of control over their offending but not their substance abuse. The culmination of the above means that the needs of the majority of these women, whether in prison or in the community, were multiple, complex and highly intertwined. Thus, their post release needs are extensive and challenging. The study suggests that we may need to reconceptualise what can, or should be, expected in terms of individual desistance from these women, who have been cycling in and out of criminal justice involvement from an early age, often with significant substance abuse problems, high incidences of trauma and victimisation and considerable mental and emotional health needs. It also poses questions, based on the women's own understanding and experiences, as to the adequacy of supports and services available to these women within the community. The findings of this study also align with international research that both the triggers of female offending and the post release needs are extremely different for female offenders compared to that of their male counterparts and further emphasises the need for a gender specific approach. Details: Dublin: Association for Criminal Justice Research and Development, 2013. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 25, 2016 at: http://www.acjrd.ie/files/Tracking_the_needs_and_service_provision_for_women_ex-prisoners_-_Final.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Ireland Keywords: Female Ex-Offenders Shelf Number: 137969 |
Author: Care After Prison Title: Care After Prison: Three Year Impact Report, 2011-2014 Summary: Over 60% of ex-prisoners reoffend within 3 years of their release. This poses a real challenge for those providing services to people leaving prison. In 2011, Care After Prison (CAP) was founded to help break this cycle. CAP takes a completely new approach: peer-led and non-judgmental. It meets ex-prisoners in the middle by providing credible support built through experience and education. It is this unique perspective that distinguishes CAP from other services and makes it the effective intervention that it is. The benefits of CAP's success in rehabilitating ex-prisoners are three-fold: ex-prisoners have benefited by reintegrating into society, crime by ex-prisoners has been reduced and, as a result, tax payers have saved money. In 2014, CAP staged 439 interventions in the community alone. Of those, the majority were related to prison-in reach visits, peer advice and homeless or accommodation issues. In addition, through the Community Support Scheme (CSS), CAP worked with 211 offenders on structured Release and referred 134 to additional services. The top referrals were for addiction services, education and training and employment. As CAP service users' average recidivism rate is significantly lower than the national average, CAP delivers a considerable saving to the Exchequer. Details: Dublin: Care After Prison, 2015. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 14, 2016 at: http://careafterprison.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Care-after-prison-report-web.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Ireland Keywords: Prisoner Reentry Shelf Number: 138212 |
Author: Mackey, Kelly Title: Analysis of Sentencing for Possession or Importation of Drugs for Sale or Supply Summary: This analysis examines the sentencing practice of the courts in relation to certain drug trafficking offences, specifically the offences of possession or importation of controlled drugs for the purpose of sale or supply. There are four such offences which are detailed herein: Possession of controlled drugs for unlawful sale or supply (s. 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, as amended). Possession of controlled drugs (valued at L13,000 or more) for unlawful sale or supply (s. 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, as amended). Importation of controlled drugs for unlawful sale or supply (several provisions found in the Customs Acts, Misuse of Drugs Acts 1979-1984, as amended, and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988). Importation of controlled drugs (valued at L13,000 or more) for unlawful sale or supply (s. 15B of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, as amended). It is important to note that there is a different sentencing regime for the ordinary possession and importation for sale or supply offences and possession or importation for sale and supply offences where the value of the drug or drugs exceeds L3,000. Convictions under s. 15A or s. 15B automatically attract a "basic presumptive sentence" of 10 years or more. This applies regardless of whether mitigating factors may exist meriting a lower sentence. A sentencing court may however impose a lower sentence where there are mitigating factors that amount to "exceptional and specific circumstances", which would render the imposition of a sentence of 10 years or more "unjust in all the circumstances". "Exceptional and specific circumstances" can be said to set a higher threshold than mitigating factors generally in sentencing law: all "exceptional and specific circumstances" are mitigating factors, but not all mitigating factors constitute "exceptional and specific circumstances". In Part I, the legislative basis for these drug trafficking offences and the reserved judgments of the superior courts are analysed in order to articulate a sentencing framework. Part II examines the application of such sentencing principles to the hybrid sentencing regime for offences of possession or importation for sale or supply where the controlled drugs are above a certain monetary value, i.e. whether the "basic presumptive sentence" should be imposed or whether to do so would be unjust in all the circumstances. Part III contains a prcis of all judgments on sentencing - total of 79 reserved and ex tempore decisions involving 81 offenders - the Court of Criminal Appeal from 2009 to 2012. 20 judgments were analysed pertaining to the ordinary offence and 59 relating to the offences carrying the presumptive sentence. Details: Dublin: Irish Sentencing Information System, 2013. 103p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 21, 2016 at: http://www.irishsentencing.ie/en/ISIS/Analysis%20of%20Sentencing%20for%20Drug%20Offences,%20Mar%202014.pdf/Files/Analysis%20of%20Sentencing%20for%20Drug%20Offences,%20Mar%202014.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Ireland Keywords: Drug Offenders Shelf Number: 138347 |
Author: Quigley, Martin Title: Building Bridges: An Evaluation and Social Return on Investment Study of the Le Cheile Restorative Justice Project Summary: The Le Cheile Restorative Justice Project is Ireland's first and only non-statutory youth restorative justice service. The Project's primary focus is on providing a range of restorative justice interventions to young people from the Limerick area, who have been involved in crime and are being worked with by the Probation service. Le Cheile wanted an external evaluation of how effective their restorative justice programme was, and a Social Return on Investment analysis. What we did We worked with Le Cheile staff, clients, victims, family members and other professionals to develop a clear understanding of the outcomes of the project. We worked with many interagency partners, like Young Persons Probation, An Garda Siochana, Support After Crimes Services and other community agencies to develop a greater understanding what worked well, what could be improved and what happened as a result of the interventions received For the Social Return on Investment analysis, interviews and focus groups were held with a range of stakeholders including children and young people, members of their families, the victims, representatives of criminal justice agencies and other professionals. Details: Le Cheile, Ireland: Le Cheile Mentoring and Youth Justice Support Services, 2015. 126p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 28, 2016 at: http://qualitymatters.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Building-Bridges-Restorative-Justice-SROI-Evaluation-2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Ireland Keywords: Restorative Justice Shelf Number: 138451 |
Author: MacNeela, Padraig Title: Young People, Alcohol and Sex: What's Consent Got To Do With It? Exploring How Attitudes to Alcohol Impact on Judgements about Consent to Sexual Activity: Judgements about Consent to Sexual Activity:Judgements about Consent to Sexual Activity: Summary: This qualitative study explores the intersection of university students attitudes to alcohol use and consent to engage in sexual activity. This report describes: - The background to the study - The two qualitative methodologies used to collect and analyse data - The findings that arose from student reactions to hypothetical scenarios of non-consenting sexual activity, and - Discusses the findings in respect of the scope to support change in attitudes to alcohol use and consent. One of the key findings in the extensive RCNI Rape and Justice in Ireland report (Hanley et al., 2009) was the high rate of co-occurrence of heavy drinking with rape, by perpetrators and / or victims. This finding led RCNI to develop a year-long campaign in 2012, titled Calling Time on Sexual Violence and Alcohol. The current study builds on this work to address the links that exist between sexual violence and alcohol use. Internationally, it is recognised that extreme intoxication is a component of how the public understand sexual coercion and rape. For instance, this link underpins a 'double standard' attitude, whereby victims are attributed more responsibility if they had been drinking while perpetrators are often perceived as less responsible (Abbey, 2008). Studies of university student attitudes to alcohol use and non-consenting sexual encounters are not available in the Irish context, so relevant work from other countries will be cited in introducing this study. One reference point in the existing research literature is that of stereotypical rape myths (Ryan, 2011). These myths rely on attitudes and social scripts that support a network of fixed, false beliefs about sexual violence. Such rape myths are linked to the stigmatisation of victims by others. They are also associated with self-stigma, as many women who have been forced to have sex do not label the experience of rape, due to their own internalized expectations for what rape entails (Littleton et al., 2006). Thus, a victim who has been drinking may be less likely to label sexual violence as rape, in the mistaken belief that he or she shares responsibility for the assault. It is not just through rape-specific expectations that preconceptions and stereotypes inform attitudes to nonconsenting sex. Berntson et al. (2013) take a broader view on how college students use scripts and pre-existing expectations to make sense of their relationship experiences. For them, relationships and sexual activity are interpreted through interpersonal sexual scripts that are shared among peers. Berntson et al. suggest that women are more likely to view their sexual activity within a communicative, relationship-based script. They contrast this with the traditional male preference for a recreational script for 'no strings' sex. This picture reflects long-standing cultural norms, in which men and women may be pursuing different, potentially conflicting objectives through sexual activity. It should be noted that gender role differences in expectations for sexual activity may now be changing. According to U.S. research, recreational sexual scripts have gained traction among young adults as an acceptable option for both sexes. This has been seen in the emergence of the 'hook up' culture. Hooking up refers to engaging in sexual behaviours without a pre-existing romantic relationship (Downing-Matibag & Geisinger, 2009). This might include sexual intercourse, but a hook up can also include or be restricted to oral sex, sexual touching, or masturbation. It is at this point that it becomes essential to consider the intersection between attitudes to sex and the impact that alcohol use has for sexual expression among young adults. Alcohol use has been identified as a critical issue for the well-being of young adults who take part in hook ups. In one recent survey of U.S. students, Thomson Ross et al. (2011) found that non-consenting sex was strongly associated with binge drinking and reports of harms arising from alcohol consumption. The link between drinking and non-consenting sex is especially relevant in an Irish context, as, quite apart from the emergence of a hook up culture, alcohol use is a dominant feature of socialising among young adults. For instance, a comparative study of 21 countries established that Irish university students exhibited one of the highest rate of drinking internationally (94%) (Dantzer et al., 2006). Dantzer et al. found no gender difference in the rate of non-drinking among Irish students, whereas in most countries rates of non-drinking are substantially higher among females than males. Ireland is one of several European countries with particularly high rates of alcohol consumption, along with Denmark, England, Scotland, Wales, and the Netherlands (Dantzer et al., 2006). All of these countries have high rates of binge drinking as well, a style of drinking that involves the consumption of large amounts of alcohol within a short period. There is by now little doubt that binge drinking is associated with considerably elevated risks of exposure to alcohol-related harms. These span the physical domain (e.g., injury, blackouts), psychological harms (e.g., lower quality of life, alcohol dependence), and social harms (e.g., higher rates of public disorder convictions, lower academic performance) (Kypri et al., 2009). Following repeated exposure to harms among peer networks, negative events such as a memory blackout or interpersonal conflict may become normalised. It may be the case that these adverse outcomes become accepted as the cost of accommodating heavy drinking as an integral part of the university experience. The degree to which alcohol-related harms such as non-consenting sex, rape, and sexual assault have been normalised is as yet unstudied in the Irish context. Details: Galway: Rape Crisis Network Ireland, 2014. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 12, 2016 at: http://www.rcni.ie/wp-content/uploads/Whats-Consent-Full-A41.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Ireland Keywords: Alcohol Related Crime Shelf Number: 138638 |
Author: MacNamara, Catherine Title: Improving Prison Conditions by Strengthening the Monitoring of HIV, HCV, TB and Harm Reduction Summary: This report, published April 2016, forms part of the EU co-funded project "Improving Prison Conditions by Strengthening Infectious Disease Monitoring" implemented under the lead of Harm Reduction International in 2015 and 2016. The project aims to reduce ill-treatment of persons in detention and improve prison conditions through improved and standardised monitoring and inspection mechanisms on HIV, HCV and TB. The current report, written by Catherine MacNamara, Lorraine Varley and Patricia Mannix McNamara, presents the mapping situation in Ireland. Prisons and other places of detention are high-risk environments for the transmission of these diseases. This is related to the over-incarceration of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups who carry a disproportionately high burden of disease and ill-health; the criminalisation of drug users and high levels of injecting drug use; overcrowded and substandard prison conditions; inadequate health care; and the denial of harm reduction services. Over the past 20 years, from an Irish perspective, there has been significant improvement in medical services for the prison population. The Irish Prison Service (IPS) has made significant investment since 1999 in better healthcare facilities for prisoners. In 2001 the IPS introduced drug treatment plans and healthcare plans, Hep B vaccine was made accessible to prisoners, nurses were employed, drug free units were expanded, and methadone treatment was implemented. In 2006 the IPS published a drugs policy Keeping drugs out of prison. However, there still remains a lack of information available that would assist public authorities in making decisions with regards to these services. While some progress has been made in the adoption of monitoring mechanisms for infectious diseases in Irish prisons, this progress is arguably less than sufficient or consistent in meeting the standards of human rights-based prison monitoring. The absence of adequate medical services in prisons can contribute to, or even constitute, conditions that meet the threshold of ill treatment. Presently, to our knowledge, inspection of infectious diseases is not formally included in the criteria for inspection of places of detention. Prison monitoring is often separated from health care inspection guidelines, leaving gaps in terms of coherent recording and monitoring. This separation is less than optimal in terms of services being positioned to provide an effective and coherent national response to prisoner need.This report is part of a larger international project that seeks to address this gap. Details: Dublin: Irish Prison Reform Trust, 2016. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 11, 2016 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/PrisonProjectReport_Ireland_web_A41.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Ireland Keywords: Prison Conditions Shelf Number: 139600 |
Author: Mulcahy, Jane Title: The practice of pre-trial detention in Ireland. Research report Summary: This report is one of 10 country reports outlining the findings of an EU-funded research project that was conducted in 10 different EU Member States in 2014 - 2015. While there have been numerous studies on the legal framework governing pre-trial detention in EU Member States, limited research into the practice of pre-trial detention decision-making has been carried out to date. This lack of reliable evidence motivated this major project in which NGOs and academics from 10 EU Member States, coordinated by Fair Trials International (Fair Trials), researched pre-trial decision-making procedures. The objective of the project is to provide a unique evidence base regarding what, in practice, is causing the use of pre-trial detention. In this research, the procedures of decision-making were reviewed to understand the motivations and incentives of the stakeholders involved (defence practitioners, judges, prosecutors). It is hoped that these findings will inform the development of future initiatives aiming at reducing the use of pre-trial detention at domestic and EU-level. Details: Dublin: Irish Penal Reform Trust, 2016. 88p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 11, 2016 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/PTD_Country_Report_Ireland_FINAL_updated.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Ireland Keywords: Pretrial Detention Shelf Number: 139601 |
Author: Martynowicz, Agnieszke Title: Prison Litigation Network Project: National Report on Ireland Summary: This report was prepared as part of the Prison Litigation Network Project, which is a European project looking at national systems of judicial and non-judicial mechanisms for the protection of the rights of prisoners. IPRT is the Irish national project partner to the Prison Litigation Network Project. The report find that while significant improvements have been made to physical conditions in Irish prisons in recent years, a number of concerns remain. Additionally, the complaints system available to prisoners, while improved since the introduction of a new policy in 2014, continues to face questions over its independence and effectiveness, and appears to be significantly underused by prisoners at present. The establishment of an Office of a Prisoner Ombudsman appears unlikely in the near future, and Ireland is still yet to ratify the Optional Protocol for the UN Convention against Torture and introduce the National Preventive Mechanism envisaged by the Protocol. In these circumstances, prisoners often rely on raising any issues regarding their treatment or prison conditions through their legal representatives. This is far from easy, especially considering the limited level of legal aid in prison cases. Other barriers to litigation include: the "chill factor" relating to the potential of intimidation or victimisation; the perceived reluctance of the courts to interfere in the running of the prisons; and potential evidential issues. Faced with such difficulties, many potential issues that could be considered by the courts are mediated before they reach that stage, improving the individual situation of the prisoner who raises them. In these circumstances, while there have been a number of very significant prison cases taken in Ireland over the years, the Report finds the impact of prison litigation in Ireland on systemic changes to the system is difficult to measure. Details: Dublin: Irish Penal Reform Trust, 2016. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 11, 2016 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/PLN_Ireland_National_Report_combined.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Ireland Keywords: Prison Conditions Shelf Number: 139602 |
Author: Mongan, Deirdre Title: Alcohol in Ireland: consumption, harm, cost and policy response Summary: HRB Overview Series. Alcohol in Ireland: consumption, harm, cost and policy response www.hrb.ie 5 Alcohol is widely consumed in Ireland and it is associated with many aspects of Irish social and cultural life. The results presented in this Overview reiterate that Ireland, by international standards, has a high level of alcohol consumption, overall and in single sessions. Moreover, over half the population drink in a harmful manner, making harmful drinking more the norm than the exception. In 2014, per capita consumption was 21% higher than the target of 9.1 litres per person annually recommended in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy . In 2013 at least 75% of all alcohol consumed was consumed during a binge drinking session. In 2009, the Government established a steering group to formulate a national alcohol policy. The steering group published their report in 2012 and recommended that the Health Research Board be tasked with collecting information on the appropriate alcohol-related epidemiological indicators. Given the apparent acceptance of harmful drinking patterns and drunkenness in Ireland, it is not surprising that the overall findings of this Overview illustrate that alcohol is responsible for a considerable burden of death, disease and injury. Alcohol is also responsible for three deaths each day and approximately 4,000 self- harm presentations each year. The greatest burden of health harm is experienced by younger people. Three-quarters of all alcohol-related hospitalisations and deaths occurred among people under 65 years of age. The steep increase in alcoholic liver disease among those aged under 35 years is a worrying consequence of our harmful drinking patterns. On the basis of evidence presented here, the health of Irish people would be improved if we change our norms by reducing overall alcohol consumption as well as risky drinking patterns. The international evidence is substantive and clear on the most effective policies to reduce alcohol- related harm. These policies include making alcohol more expensive, restricting its availability and reducing the promotion of alcohol, all of which are included in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015. The implementation of this bill would lead to a reduction in per capita consumption of alcohol in Ireland to a more appropriate level and to reduce the extent of alcohol-related harm faced by us as a society. Details: Dublin: Health Research Board, 2016. 96p. Source: Internet Resource: HRB Overview Series 10: Accessed August 1, 2016 at: http://alcoholireland.ie/download/reports/alcohol_health/Overview-Series-10_Alcohol_in_Ireland_consumption-harm-cost-and-policy....pdf Year: 2016 Country: Ireland Keywords: Alcohol Abuse Shelf Number: 139918 |
Author: UglyMugs.IE Title: Crime and Abuse Experienced by Sex Workers in Ireland: Victimisation Survey Summary: UglyMugs.ie invited Irish indoor sex workers to take part in the research, which aimed to learn more about escorts in Ireland and particularly about their experiences of crime and abuse. This is the first ever survey of indoor sex workers in Ireland and 195 female, male and trans* escorts took part. Although the survey cannot be considered representative of all persons selling sex in Ireland, 195 participants is a very significant proportion of the Irish sex worker population. The escorts who took part in the survey were from 29 different countries. Most were aged in their 20s or 30s and highly educated. Just over half had worked in sex work in another country prior to becoming an escort in Ireland. 97.3% were self-employed independent escorts, though 33.3% had experience of working for a third party, e.g. an escort agency, in Ireland or elsewhere in the past. Despite it being popularly reported in the media that children are involved in prostitution, there was no evidence of the involvement of any under 16s and only one participant was aged under 18. Participants reported low alcohol and drug use, high condom use, and taking a number of security measures whilst working as an escort, the top ones being not getting in cars with clients (65.3%), taking more precautions when it is a new client (58.1%) and not working alone (41.1%) despite the laws in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland that force escorts to work alone if they want to work legally. Ireland's sex worker population overwhelmingly works indoors with access to phones and the Internet, which is safe conditions, in comparison to outdoor sex working. However, many of the participants reported experiences of a wide range of crime and abuses. It is also clear that a wide range of persons commit crime against sex workers in Ireland, not only clients. 66.7% of participants who had been a victim of crime whilst working as an escort in Ireland did not report to the police. The high level of stigma associated with being an escort being the primary barrier to engaging with police. Participants said that other escorts were the biggest source of help to them after experiencing crime. The research confirmed that currently there are no useful support services for escorts in Ireland, but escorts would welcome the establishment of a variety of sex worker support services. Fear of media exposure amongst escorts in Ireland is very high, even higher than fear of crime, with 74.6% of participants worried or very worried about being exposed as an escort in the newspapers or other media. Recommendations include further research, a review of laws and policies that put sex workers at risk, tackling media abuse of sex workers and the provision of police sex worker liaison services and general advice, legal advice, health services and exiting services for sex workers. The full report outlines that a number of factors put escort at risk of violence and abuse. The lack of support services and good relations with police, mean offenders specifically target escorts, in the belief that they are people in society without any help, who offenders can abuse with a very low risk of facing any consequences as a result. The media portrayal of escorts as people with no rights, no choices, helpless victims who can't say no to anything or anybody, is also sending a very dangerous message to offenders. UglyMugs.ie is a scheme that aims to improve the safety of sex workers in Ireland and reduce crimes committed against them, by bringing sex workers together to share information about potential dangers. Details: s.l.: UglyMugs.IE, 2013. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 3, 2016 at: https://uglymugs.ie/wp-content/uploads/ugly-mugs-september-2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Ireland Keywords: Prostitutes Shelf Number: 139968 |
Author: UglyMugs.IE Title: Opinions and Experiences of Police: Irish Sex Worker Survey 2015 Summary: 86 sex worker participants, 76 of whom have experience of working in the Republic of Ireland and 41 of whom have experience of working in Northern Ireland. - Most participants were working as female (85.9%). Ages ranged from 18-64 and 25-34 was the largest age group represented (47.1%). - Participants mostly identified as white (77.6%) ethnicity - 91.7% were EU nationals and 23.8% we re Irish or UK nationals - 84.7% had native, fluent or good English. Details: s.l.: UglyMugs.IE, 2015. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 3, 2016 at: https://uglymugs.ie/wp-content/uploads/opinions-and-experiences-of-police-uglymugsie-2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Ireland Keywords: Prostitutes Shelf Number: 139969 |
Author: Dempsey, Orla Title: Developing and Implementing Models for the Prevalence, Incidence and Geographic Spread of Opiate Use in Ireland Summary: The objective of this study is to further develop and implement established mathematical models for the first time to the problem of estimating the true size of the opiate epidemic and to develop and apply existing mathematical models to the problem of modelling the geographic spread of opiate use in Ireland. Estimates of the true size and spread of the opiate epidemic are difficult to obtain due to the hidden nature of opiate use however these estimates are vital for policy makers and service providers when planning for the provision of effective treatment services. In a bid to estimate the true size of the epidemic this research focuses on deriving suitable models to estimate the prevalence and incidence of opiate use in Ireland. The back calculation model from AIDS epidemiology is applied to the problem of estimating the hidden, untreated incidence of opiate use. An estimate of the hidden incidence is produced by back calculating from the known treated incidence through an estimated latency period of opiate use. The back calculation model is analytically solved and the solutions obtained are used to produce estimates of the hidden, untreated incidence of opiate use when the exact rate of progression to treatment is unknown. In a bid to produce more accurate incidence estimates data on times from first opiate use to first treatment are obtained. A model for the exact rate of progression to first treatment is determined through fitting Gamma and Weibull probability distributions to data on 5,022 times to treatment for previously untreated opiate users. The exact rate of progression to first treatment along with a range of forms of treated incidence is applied to the back calculation model which is then solved analytically for the first time. The solutions obtained are applied to the problem of estimating the true size of the hidden, untreated population of opiate users who will present for their first treatment in the future. A vast array of techniques to estimate the prevalence of drug and opiate use exist however a new approach which is not heavily data dependent would be beneficial to researchers, policy makers and service providers. An integral equation model to estimate the prevalence of opiate use is derived. The prevalence model derived is based on the models developed for the hidden incidence of opiate use. Estimates of the prevalence of opiate use are produced when the exact rate of progression to treatment is unknown and known. Whilst estimates of the true size of the epidemic are necessary, it is essential to determine where the epidemic will spread in order to determine measures to prevent further spread. A partial differential equation which uses the prevalence estimates produced, is derived to describe the geographic spread of opiate use in Ireland. Techniques to estimate model parameters for the partial differential equation are developed and the hypothetical geographic spread of opiate use from Dublin to Wexford is simulated. Models for the prevalence, incidence and geographic spread of opiate use have been developed. The models derived are not heavily data dependent and could be utilised to produce estimates of any problematic drug use in any specified location providing the necessary data is available. Details: Dublin: Trinity College, 2011. 180p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed September 21, 2016 at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249326915_Developing_and_Implementing_Models_for_the_Prevalence_Incidence_and_Geographic_Spread_of_Opiate_Use_in_Ireland Year: 2011 Country: Ireland Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Shelf Number: 145575 |
Author: Joyce, Joanna Title: "In Here, Time Stands Still": The Rights, Needs and Experiences of Older People in Prison Summary: The number of older people in Irish prisons has increased considerably in recent years and this group now represents a substantial minority within the Irish prison system. Latest figures indicate that almost 10% of people in prison custody today are over the age of 50. This new report from IPRT examines the rights, needs and experiences of this vulnerable group within the prison system, and makes key recommendations as to how the Irish Prison Service can meet these needs. The recommendations contained in the report are based on best practice examples set out in the research literature and on the recommendations of the research participants and professional stakeholders. If acted upon, these recommendations will greatly improve the lives of older people in the Irish prison system. Details: Dublin: Irish Penal Reform Trust, 2016. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 21, 2016 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/IPRT-Older_People_in_Prison_Report_web.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Ireland Keywords: Aged Offenders Shelf Number: 147849 |
Author: Pope, Kalis Title: Young People's Experiences of Crime: an Investigation into the Victimisation and Offending of Inner-City Dublin Youth Summary: This project is one of the first empirical investigations into youth victimisation and offending in Ireland and is one of three research projects that were established under the Youth Crime Research Project: Young People's Experiences of Crime. Victim surveys are of particular interest to this study, as they help to illuminate the 'dark figure' of crime through ascertaining individual's experiences of victimisation, while simultaneously collecting pertinent information regarding their own level of criminality. A common failure among the majority of victim surveys, however, is that they do not investigate the experiences of young people. This project seeks to address this deficiency. Through the use of a victim survey, structural equation models, and focus groups, this research will also analyse the extent and nature of youth victimisation and offending in inner-city Dublin, possible correlations between victimisation and offending behaviour, the role parental supervision and routine activities/lifestyle choices play in determining the risk of victimisation and offending, and the role gender plays in young people’s experiences of crime. Previous research has shown that victimisation is a strong indicator of likely participation in delinquent behaviour. However, many young people have been victimised, yet do not pursue a delinquent lifestyle as a result, suggesting a strong similarity between victimogenic and criminogenic risk factors, such as age and environment. The control that guardians exert over youth is also paramount in determining what type of lifestyle youth can pursue in the first place. As youth cannot be supervised at all times, the lifestyle choices they make regardless of parental influence, will also be investigated. Finally, this research aims to be instrumental in the future development of a nationwide survey of youth experiences of crime in Ireland. Details: Dublin: Dublin Institute of Technology, 2015. 367p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed January 25, 2017 at: http://arrow.dit.ie/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1065&context=appadoc Year: 2015 Country: Ireland Keywords: Juvenile Delinquency Shelf Number: 147802 |
Author: Clarke, Ann Title: Review of Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services for Adult Offenders in Prison and in the Community Summary: (i) Introduction Executive Summary In 2015, the Probation Service and Irish Prisons Service (IPS) sought an independent review of alcohol and drug treatment services for adult offenders in the community and in prison. The review explores current provision and provides recommendations based on the evidence collected. It sets out a model of effective practice for the treatment of adult offenders which facilitates a continuum of care from prison to the community. A multi-method approach was used to meet the terms of reference. This included a literature review, consultations with key personnel in the Probation Service, IPS, service providers, the National Drugs Rehabilitation Implementation Committee (NDRIC), and the Health Service Executive (HSE), as well as site visits to Cork and Mountjoy Prisons, five community-based organisations and five Local Drugs and Alcohol Task Force projects (LDATFs). (ii) Model of Effective Practice The model of effective practice is presented in the main report. This is based on a review of international literature, the NDRIC framework, consultations with community-based organisations1 and prison-based health teams and addiction counsellors. It recognises that recovery from addiction is a long-term process that frequently requires multiple episodes of treatment and/or interventions. It acknowledges that no one treatment option fits all individuals and a broad range of options is required. It highlights the importance of good communication and co-ordination both within systems (e.g. prison) and between systems (e.g. prison and community). The principles underpinning the model include equity of access, choice, person centred provision that uses evidenced-based treatment and intervention options, co-ordinated approaches with clear treatment pathways into and out of different settings, using time in prison as an opportunity to address addiction and having a focus on outcomes. The core components of the model are interlinked rather than linear. These components are pre-work and preparation, referral, assessment, care planning, case management, treatment and recovery management. The model will work in both the community setting and prison setting. (iii) Strengths of the Current System of Provision Addiction is a major contributory factor in criminality. The Probation Service’s Drugs and Alcohol Survey (2011) found that the majority of alcohol and drug misusing offenders had their misuse linked to their offending. Martyn (2012) found that 89% of adult offenders on probation supervision had misused drugs or alcohol and Freeman and Allen (2015) found that 60% of prisoners in Cork prison had a documented history of substance abuse and addiction. Both the Probation Service and the IPS recognise the role drugs and alcohol play in criminality and recidivism and both have invested heavily in developing a system of provision to address drug and alcohol addictions. The prison environment provides a unique opportunity to support individuals to address addiction and it is appropriate that a range of treatment and intervention options is provided in the prison estate. Excluding direct staff and GP costs, the IPS and Probation Service have combined expenditure of €3.33m on the provision of addiction services for adult offenders. Expenditure by the Probation Service has remained stable in recent years, while spending by the IPS has reduced in line with the decline in prisoner numbers. However, those in prison are now more likely to be the most challenging and chaotic. This includes those with a dual diagnosis of addiction and mental health issues. Health teams are present in every prison and some staff have specialist qualifications in the treatment of addiction. Clinicians have an interest in addiction and are familiar with the care pathways within the prison estate, thus increasing their effectiveness. The development of joint strategies between the Probation Service and the IPS has supported the development of a more integrated and co-ordinated approach to dealing with offenders, including those with addictions. The current model of provision is a mixed methods layered approach incorporating residential treatment provided in the community using a number of treatment regimes. This includes detoxification within prison, methadone treatment, one to one and group addiction counselling, specialist treatment methodologies (e.g. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Therapeutic Communities, 12 Step Programmes), harm reduction and relapse prevention. This mixed methods way of working fits with international best practice and is appropriate. The NDRIC framework is an important national development that the Probation Service and the IPS have aligned with. There are opportunities to further strengthen this alignment with NDRIC, most notably in the areas of care planning, enhanced communication and protocols with the HSE, better internal and external co-ordination. While small in number and primarily Dublin-based, community prison link workers are a valuable resource which provides a link for offenders between prison and the community. Greater integration of these workers in the system of provision, including links with the work of Probation Officers and Integrated Sentence Managers (ISMs), would be supported by the development of a formal joint Service Level Agreement between the Probation Service and the IPS and organisations providing community prison link workers. From the limited outcomes data that is available, positive outcomes are evident. Overall we can expect between 70% and 100% of those who enter a detox programme to complete it, and between 60% and 80% of those who commence treatment to complete it. Of those who complete treatment we can expect around half to return to training, education or employment. Around one-third will achieve total recovery, another one-third will manage their addiction safely and around one-third will relapse. (iv) Gaps in Provision The system of provision is evolving to address needs as they arise. Areas that pose particular challenges at present and that require attention and further development are: Treatment services for women offenders. Women, especially women with children, have specific needs that a comprehensive system of provision should cater for. While women with addiction are catered for within prison and within the community, the options available are relatively limited. The Probation Service and the IPS are aiming to address these challenges through a joint strategy for women offenders. There is a strong focus on drug addiction within the current system of provision. However, alcohol abuse is just as important a contributor to criminality as is drug addiction and abuse. Because of the non-availability of alcohol within the prison estate, prisoners with an alcohol addiction effectively have no choice other than to detox, with or without medication. Programmes that place more attention on the underlying reasons for alcohol addiction and how to prevent these triggers in the future as well as harm reduction strategies require further development across the prison estate. Within drug addiction, many of the treatment regimes are focused on opiate based drugs. However, in recent years the trends in usage have been away from opiates towards other drugs such as benzodiazepines and novel psychoactive substances, which are more difficult to detect. Treatment regimes are playing catch up to these developments, both in the community and within the prison estate. There are a growing number of offenders presenting with co-morbidities, e.g. alcohol and/or drug abuse combined with mental health issues. Best practice advocates a system of integrated dual treatment and many of the existing suites of community-based service providers and the system of provision within the prison estate does not adequately cater for co-morbidities. (iii) Strengths of the Current System of Provision Addiction is a major contributory factor in criminality. The Probation Service’s Drugs and Alcohol Survey (2011) found that the majority of alcohol and drug misusing offenders had their misuse linked to their offending. Martyn (2012) found that 89% of adult offenders on probation supervision had misused drugs or alcohol and Freeman and Allen (2015) found that 60% of prisoners in Cork prison had a documented history of substance abuse and addiction. Both the Probation Service and the IPS recognise the role drugs and alcohol play in criminality and recidivism and both have invested heavily in developing a system of provision to address drug and alcohol addictions. The prison environment provides a unique opportunity to support individuals to address addiction and it is appropriate that a range of treatment and intervention options is provided in the prison estate. Excluding direct staff and GP costs, the IPS and Probation Service have combined expenditure of €3.33m on the provision of addiction services for adult offenders. Expenditure by the Probation Service has remained stable in recent years, while spending by the IPS has reduced in line with the decline in prisoner numbers. However, those in prison are now more likely to be the most challenging and chaotic. This includes those with a dual diagnosis of addiction and mental health issues. Health teams are present in every prison and some staff have specialist qualifications in the treatment of addiction. Clinicians have an interest in addiction and are familiar with the care pathways within the prison estate, thus increasing their effectiveness. The development of joint strategies between the Probation Service and the IPS has supported the development of a more integrated and co-ordinated approach to dealing with offenders, including those with addictions. The current model of provision is a mixed methods layered approach incorporating residential treatment provided in the community using a number of treatment regimes. This includes detoxification within prison, methadone treatment, one to one and group addiction counselling, specialist treatment methodologies (e.g. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Therapeutic Communities, 12 Step Programmes), harm reduction and relapse prevention. This mixed methods way of working fits with international best practice and is appropriate. The NDRIC framework is an important national development that the Probation Service and the IPS have aligned with. There are opportunities to further strengthen this alignment with NDRIC, most notably in the areas of care planning, enhanced communication and protocols with the HSE, better internal and external co-ordination. While small in number and primarily Dublin-based, community prison link workers are a valuable resource which provides a link for offenders between prison and the community. Greater integration of these workers in the system of provision, including links with the work of Probation Officers and Integrated Sentence Managers (ISMs), would be supported by the development of a formal joint Service Level Agreement between the Probation Service and the IPS and organisations providing community prison link workers. From the limited outcomes data that is available, positive outcomes are evident. Overall we can expect between 70% and 100% of those who enter a detox programme to complete it, and between 60% and 80% of those who commence treatment to complete it. Of those who complete treatment we can expect around half to return to training, education or employment. Around one-third will achieve total recovery, another one-third will manage their addiction safely and around one-third will relapse. (iv) Gaps in Provision The system of provision is evolving to address needs as they arise. Areas that pose particular challenges at present and that require attention and further development are: Treatment services for women offenders. Women, especially women with children, have specific needs that a comprehensive system of provision should cater for. While women with addiction are catered for within prison and within the community, the options available are relatively limited. The Probation Service and the IPS are aiming to address these challenges through a joint strategy for women offenders. There is a strong focus on drug addiction within the current system of provision. However, alcohol abuse is just as important a contributor to criminality as is drug addiction and abuse. Because of the non-availability of alcohol within the prison estate, prisoners with an alcohol addiction effectively have no choice other than to detox, with or without medication. Programmes that place more attention on the underlying reasons for alcohol addiction and how to prevent these triggers in the future as well as harm reduction strategies require further development across the prison estate. Within drug addiction, many of the treatment regimes are focused on opiate based drugs. However, in recent years the trends in usage have been away from opiates towards other drugs such as benzodiazepines and novel psychoactive substances, which are more difficult to detect. Treatment regimes are playing catch up to these developments, both in the community and within the prison estate. There are a growing number of offenders presenting with co-morbidities, e.g. alcohol and/or drug abuse combined with mental health issues. Best practice advocates a system of integrated dual treatment and many of the existing suites of community-based service providers and the system of provision within the prison estate does not adequately cater for co-morbidities. The absence of a peer-led positive drugs free environment, within the prison estate, for offenders who have come off drugs or alcohol needs to be addressed. (v) Development Needs In terms of actual work on the ground, certain aspects of the model of effective practice (see Figure 1 above for a summary and chapter five of the main report for the full model) require further development as follows: NDRIC is an important national framework that the Probation Service and the IPS should align further with wherever possible. This will help ensure continuity of care between different settings and optimal use of resources. As highlighted above, a more broadly based system of provision that caters for the specific needs of women offenders, treatments and interventions for alcohol abuse, treatments and interventions that accommodate the changing nature of drug abuse and co-morbidities is desirable. Within the prison estate, more focus on the development of alcohol treatment programmes would be beneficial as well as relevant screening and treatment regimes for nonopiate based drug addiction. This latter point also requires development within the community setting. With regard to co-morbidities, commissioning of service providers with expertise in mental health and treatment of addiction is one option. Another possibility is to develop protocols with the HSE on access to psychiatric and psychological services. Equity of access and treatment irrespective of location is a key principle that underpins the service provision model. This means that the current system of a broad base of community based organisations should be continued. However, as noted above, this could be strengthened by having more specialist services for women, services capable of addressing co-morbidities and services willing and able to deal with sex offenders or those with a history of violence. Within the prison estate, a minimum standard of provision should be present in every prison, with specialist programmes developed in Mountjoy. This is with a view to disseminating these throughout the prison estate once proven – in other words a hub and spoke model rather than a centralised model. Care planning the whole way through, from an offender being in the community (e.g. receiving treatment in the community through the HSE) to being in prison (where they might receive addiction counselling or participate in detox or continue with methadone maintenance) to discharge from prison back into the community, is an area that requires further work. Use of common assessment, screening tools and care plan templates can support a more co-ordinated care planning process. Currently, when an offender moves from the community into prison, there is a break in the care planning process. Similar breaks can occur on discharge, although the Integrated Sentence Management process has gone a considerable way to minimising this. Within the prison estate, clear responsibility for case management should be assigned and known. Information sharing, communication and co-ordination are requirements for effective through-care planning. At present, care plans do not follow the offender from one setting to another and at each stage the prison health staff, prison-based addiction counsellors, community-based treatment staff, Probation Officers, ISMs and community prison link workers are relying on the offender to inform them of what treatment or interventions they have engaged in before. Working with NDRIC, to develop a basic care plan that can be shared electronically, will support better co-ordination and effective provision of services. National protocols around referral, drop-out from treatment/interventions and information sharing require development to ensure a co-ordinated collaborative approach that supports effective case management and care planning between and within different settings. Better preparation of offenders who are moving to a residential treatment centre is an important success determinant in reducing drop-out rates, particularly in respect of offenders coming from a prison setting. Within the prison estate, a system of waiting time recording and management is a necessary step in order to support effective deployment of resources and efficient management of demand for services, particularly for addiction counselling. Harm reduction is an important component of the treatment toolkit (e.g. providing information and education on the risks of taking different types of drugs). Not every offender in treatment will successfully detox or remain drugs or alcohol free. Within the prison estate, a harm reduction programme should be developed and incorporated into the treatment regime. The Mountjoy Medical Unit operates the Drugs Treatment Programme (DTP). This could be improved through the development of a universal curriculum, better co-ordination of the service providers contracted to deliver different aspects of the curriculum and tracking of outcomes achieved. It has potential to be disseminated to other prisons once its effectiveness has been proven. For offenders remaining in prison, who have successfully detoxed, access to a peer-led positive drugs free environment will support their recovery. However, it must be remembered that within a community setting, drugs are readily available. This suggests that the primary focus should be on supporting offenders to build their own internal resilience and capacity to resist a return to addictive behaviours and be supported to build an alternative set of behaviours that support their good health and well-being. Considerable progress has been made in the management of release planning from prisons, e.g. the introduction of ISMs. However, there are still a number of areas where release of offenders with an addiction can be problematic, e.g. those who are homeless, or who are still chaotic drug users, or who are on remand, or who are released on bail by the courts, or who are on temporary release or post custody supervision. Managing these complex cases jointly and developing shared protocols would support more effective communication and coordination of such cases. The IPS needs to develop a national system of clinical governance for treatment within the prison estate that ensures consistency across prisons in the approach to treating offenders with addictions. Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are a fundamental tool in the overall governance (both financial and operational) of external service providers/CBOs contracted to provide addiction related services either in the community or within prisons. The SLAs that currently are in place have too much variability in their requirements for each service provider and there are inconsistencies between those of the Probation Service and the IPS. A standardised SLA template should be used by the Probation Service and the IPS for contracting of CBOs. One group of workers who currently provide services within the prison system have no SLA or oversight by either the Probation Service or the IPS, i.e. community prison link workers. This needs to be addressed, given that funding for their work is channelled through the Department of Justice and Equality. All Service Level Agreements should incorporate an agreed set of outcomes. For treatment services we would recommend a small number of performance indicators that focus on participation and treatment outcomes. These indicators should apply to community based services and treatment programmes within the prison estate. Joint training between community based organisations, the Probation Service and the IPS would facilitate useful networking and sharing of good practice and learning. This would also support working across the silos that are within the control of the Probation Service and the IPS. Finally, funding levels by the Probation Service should be maintained while those of the IPS should be restored to 2011 levels in order to address the gaps identified above. Multi-annual SLAs (covering up to a three-year period) should be considered for all service providers. Detailed recommendations are provided in chapter fifteen. Details: Dublin: Irish Probation Service and Irish Prison Service, 2016. 112p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 27, 2017 at: http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/PS_IPS_Probation_Review_of_treatment_for_offenders.pdf/Files/PS_IPS_Probation_Review_of_treatment_for_offenders.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Ireland Keywords: Alcoholism Shelf Number: 144929 |
Author: Reilly, Judge Michael Title: Healthcare in Irish Prisons Summary: 1.1 In a report dated 18 April 2011 – Guidance on Physical Healthcare in a Prison Context (hereinafter referred to as ‘2011 report’) – I drew attention to the standard of healthcare in our prisons. I stated that the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) had identified deficiencies in the standard of healthcare provided in a number of Irish Prisons and that I concurred with this statement. I also stated that, from my inspections of prisons, I had concluded that the standard of healthcare varied from prison to prison. In my 2011 report I dealt with the general right to health that all citizens are entitled to. In addition, I detailed the right of prisoners to healthcare in a prison context. 1.2 In my ‘2011 report’ I made the case for the provision of appropriate healthcare for prisoners. 1.3 In paragraph 1.4 of my ‘2011 report’ I stated: I will expect that, as and from 1 July 2011, all prisons and those responsible for the provision of healthcare will be aware of their obligations and will ensure that best healthcare practice will prevail in all prisons. 1.4 Unfortunately, there are still deficiencies in the provision of healthcare in our prisons and that which is provided varies from prison to prison. 1.5 Following their last visit to Ireland in September 2014 the CPT stated that - the situation has improved in some prisons while it has deteriorated in others, such as Midlands Prison. 1.6 However, the CPT findings from the 2014 visit - highlighted poor management of prison healthcare services and disjointed through care provision. Doctors working in prisons appeared disconnected from the national healthcare service and prison healthcare did not receive the necessary management support, with clinical opinions not acted upon and lack of escort staff available within prisons resulting in numerous prisoners missing medical appointments. 1.7 The CPT recommended in its Report to the Government dated 17 November 2015 that: the Irish authorities identify an appropriate independent body to undertake a fundamental review of the healthcare services in Irish prisons. Furthermore, it would appreciate the observations of the Irish authorities on the question of bringing prison healthcare under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health. 1.8 The Department of Justice and Equality responded to the CPT in November 2015. Included in this response was the following: The IPS healthcare service aims to provide prisoners with access to the same quality and range of health services as that available to those entitled to public health services in the community and which are appropriate to the prison setting…. In regard to the request for observations on moving responsibility for primary care services to the Ministry for Health, the IPS is aware of an emerging trend in other European jurisdictions for national healthcare service providers to assume responsibility for prison healthcare delivery. In addition, as recently as 2013, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) published a policy brief on the organisation of prison health – entitled Good Governance for Prison Health in the 21st Century, which concluded that the management and coordination of health services to prisoners is a whole of Government responsibility and that “Health Ministries should provide, and be accountable for healthcare services in prisons, and advocate health prison conditions”. In the light of the CPT remarks, the aforementioned emerging trend of shifting responsibilities in this area and the conclusions of the WHO/UNODC policy briefing, discussions are ongoing between IPS, the Department of Justice and Equality, the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive on the future delivery model for healthcare in Irish prisons. 1.9 To date there has not been a review of the provision of prison healthcare. I understand that the discussions between the IPS, the Department of Justice and Equality, the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE) are still ongoing one year after the response to the CPT referred to in paragraph 1.8. 1.10 When I carry out inspections of prisons it is difficult to establish if in fact the healthcare interventions offered to prisoners are appropriate. It is also difficult to establish if the level of healthcare provision in any prison is such that it meets the healthcare needs of prisoners. This is because no health needs assessment of prisoners and no staffing needs analysis has been carried out. One cannot carry out a staffing needs analysis without first ascertaining the health needs assessment in each prison. 1.11 The purpose of this report is threefold, namely; • To point out again the absolute entitlement of prisoners to healthcare and the case for such healthcare to be provided by the Department of Health. (Chapter 2). • To point to the necessity of carrying out a health needs assessment of prisoners and a staffing needs analysis in each of our prisons. (Chapter 3). • To give guidance to the Irish Prison Service (IPS), to the management of prisons and the providers of healthcare in the prisons as to what will be expected of them in the area of healthcare when inspections are carried out by my office. (Chapter 4). 1.12 In Chapter 5, I set out my recommendations. 1.13 As this is an urgent issue having been highlighted by me and by such an august body as the CPT it is not unreasonable that a public response be forthcoming either accepting the thrust of this report and giving time lines for implementing my recommendations or rejecting this report. If the recommendations in this report are rejected it would be reasonable to expect that reasons for such rejection would be given. Details: Nenagh, Ireland: Office of the Inspector of Prisons, 2016. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 2, 2017 at: http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Healthcare_in_Irish_Prisons_Report.pdf/Files/Healthcare_in_Irish_Prisons_Report.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Ireland Keywords: Healthcare Shelf Number: 114292 |
Author: Bradshaw, Daragh Title: "Family Links": Evaluation Report Summary: 1. Introduction In partnership with the Irish Prison Service, the Parents Plus Charity, Bedford Row Family Agency and the Irish Penal Reform Trust, the Childhood Development Initiative commenced the implementation of "Family Links", a system of formal and informal supports for fathers in Limerick prison and their families. Within funding from the Katherine Howard Foundation (KHF) and the Community Foundation of Ireland (CFI), these supports, here called the Family Links Initiative, can be taken to mark a sea-change in the way in which the Prison Service views and hopes to work with families affected by imprisonment. These supports include: Changes in visiting arrangements Parenting education for families Officer Training in communication and child protection issues Designated Family Liaison Officer's (FLO's) amongst prison officers. The following report is an evaluation of the pilot of the intervention implemented in Limerick Prison from October 2014 to March 2016. Details: Dublin: Childhood Development Initiative, 2017. 81p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 6, 2017 at: http://edepositireland.ie/bitstream/handle/2262/79560/Final_Family_Links_Evaluation_Report_January_2017.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Year: 2017 Country: Ireland Keywords: Child Protection Shelf Number: 141357 |
Author: O'Dwyer, Kieran Title: Reducing Youth Crime in Ireland: An Evaluation of Le Cheile Mentoring Summary: oung people who have fallen into crime reduce re-offending by 28% on average over the period of mentoring, a major evaluation report into the Le Cheile programme 'Reducing Youth Crime in Ireland' has shown. The report is based on a detailed evaluation of the Le Cheile volunteer mentoring programme and its activities over the period 2013-2015. The report has also shown also that for every euro spent on the programme, L4.35 is returned in social and economic benefits. Benefits include avoiding detention, better health and engagement in education. Of the 28% reduction in re-offending during the period of being mentored, 49% of this can be directly attributed to mentoring. It found that mentoring has significant positive impacts for young people over a range of areas, with the biggest gains made in self-confidence, hopefulness, communications, engagement in activities and, crucially, offending behaviour. Le Cheile Mentoring is a one-to-one relationship-based support service in which volunteers from local communities provide a positive role model to a young person by acting as an advisor and a friendly support. It also now delivers parent mentoring to offer parents support and help in managing their child's offending behaviour. In 2015 it mentored 152 young people aged 12 to 21 as well as 49 parent mentees, with volunteers giving 3,678 hours of their personal time to the young people and their parents. One of the key recommendations in the report was that, given the high social return from mentoring, Le Cheile should continue to be resourced and expanded to regions in Ireland where there is unmet or latent demand. Benefits include: Reductions in offending behaviour (an average of 28%, with attribution of nearly half of this to mentoring); Reductions in alcohol use (12%) and drug use (16%); Improved self-confidence (25%), hopefulness (25%), and happiness (23%); Greater involvement in activities outside the home (28%); Greater involvement or re-engagement in education, work and training (25%); Improved communication skills (24%); Moving away from negative peers (9% improvement in relationship with peers), and Improved relationships with parents (11%), other family (8%), & persons in authority (23%). Le Cheile is funded by the Irish Youth Justice Service through the Probation Service, as part of Ireland's European Structural and Investment Funds Programme 2014-2020 - co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Union. Founded in 2005 in Coolock, Le Cheile, which partners with the Probation Services to reduce youth offending behaviour in the community, is the first mentoring programme for young offenders in the country and today operates in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Clare, South Tipperary, Midlands, Waterford, Meath, with the objective now to expand it to other locations. Details: Coolock, Le Cheile, Ireland: Le cheile Mentoring & Youth Justice Support Services, 2017. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 4, 2017 at: http://www.lecheile.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Reducing-Youth-Crime-In-Ireland-Executive-Summary.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Ireland Keywords: Delinquency Prevention Shelf Number: 145314 |
Author: Carr, Nicola Title: Out on the Inside: The Rights, Experiences and Needs of LGBT People in Prison Summary: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people have long been a 'hidden' or overlooked population in prisons, both in Ireland and internationally. In recent years, however, international research and policy has begun to focus on the experiences and needs of this group of prisoners. This research, as summarised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC, 2009) has revealed a range of issues that affect LGBT individuals in prison. This includes hetero-normativity, homophobia and transphobia both within and outside prison, the threat of physical and sexual violence within prison, institutional discrimination and neglect, health needs, and social isolation. The Yogyakarta Principles (ICJ, 2007), a set of standards which apply human rights law to issues of sexual orientation and gender identity, specifically address the need to adequately meet the rights of LGBT people in detention. This includes the need to provide adequate placements, appropriate protective measures and access to medical care. These principles also emphasise the importance of independent monitoring of detention facilities by the State, as well as by non-governmental organisations working in the areas of sexual orientation and gender identity. The recent passage of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act (2014), which sets out the positive duties of public bodies to eliminate discrimination, promote equality and protect human rights, adds further impetus to address this area. This report represents the first study of the needs and experiences of LGBT prisoners within the Irish context - The themes raised are drawn from considerations of human rights and equality, and placed within the context of international literature and policy, although the limitations of transferability are noted Details: Dublin: Irish Penal Reform Trust, 2016. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 19, 2017 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/IPRT_Out_on_the_Inside_2016_EMBARGO_TO_1030_Feb_02_2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Ireland Keywords: Inmates Shelf Number: 145637 |
Author: Kearns, Noreen Title: Evaluation of the Community Safety Initiative of the Childhood Development Initiative Summary: Background In September 2008, the Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) began the 3-year process of implementing the Community Safety Initiative (CSI) in Tallaght West, Co. Dublin. Through supporting local resident interaction and promoting collaborative responses to addressing local safety issues, the CSI seeks to improve people's perceptions of safety, improve neighbour relations and promote a safe and healthy environment for children and families (CDI, 2008b). The overall aims of the initiative (CDI, 2012) are: - to improve safety and to promote pro-social behaviour across Tallaght West; - to improve community awareness and participation in local activities and services; - to encourage wide community engagement in maintaining a safe environment. Research aims and objectives This report is the final output of the 3-year evaluation (2008-2011) of the CSI by the Child and Family Research Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway. It builds on the research from three phases of data collection in order to present a comprehensive assessment of the development and implementation of the CSI. Specifically, the report evaluates the achievement of the overall aims of the CSI in this period in order to answer the evaluation's overall research questions, which are: 1. How is the CSI being implemented and what is the value of the logic underpinning the initiative? 2. Were there any changes in (1) perceptions of safety and (2) safety and/or crime prevention within the four target areas of Tallaght West? 3. If yes, what role (if any) did CSI activities play in influencing change (e.g. increasing community engagement and enhancing a 'sense of belonging' among community members) in the four areas? 4. What are the outcomes for children, parents and the wider community? Details: Dublin: Childhood Development Initiative (CDI). 132p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 5, 2017 at: https://www.ucd.ie/t4cms/Evaluation%20of%20the%20Community%20Safety%20Initiative%20of%20the%20Childhood%20Development%20Initiative.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Ireland Keywords: Communities and Crime Shelf Number: 145912 |
Author: Bowden, Matt Title: Evaluation of the Community Safety Initiative: Assignment of RAPID Co-ordinators Summary: The Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development Programme (RAPID) was a local development initiative to counter disadvantage in local communities and was co-ordinated by local authorities. In 2011, the Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) entered a partnership with South Dublin County Council (SDCC) to assign some of the RAPID staff to implement the Community Safety Initiative (the Initiative). The assignment of RAPID Co-ordinators (RCs) added a key strategic dimension to the work of CDI. The Community Safety Initiative has had two phases: from 2009 to 2011 which was evaluated by a research team from the National University of Ireland, Galway (Kearns, et al, 2013); and the second involved the assignment of the RCs to implement the Initiative in two pilot sites in Tallaght West from May 2011 to June 2012. The current report is concerned with the second of these two phases. The key goal of CDI in this phase was to mainstream the Initiative with a statutory partner. In this context the Initiative was founded upon a memorandum of understanding between CDI and the South Dublin County Council (SDCC). The evaluation is primarily concerned with this mainstreaming process and to identify the lessons learned in policy and practice terms. Dr Matt Bowden, Lecturer in Sociology at Dublin Institute of Technology and researcher at the Centre for Social and Educational Research was commissioned to conduct the evaluation. The evaluation was commissioned by CDI with the following brief: - "To assess the impact of the assignment of RAPID coordinators to delivering the CSI on: - - Their approach; - The approach of the CDI team; - The CSI model; - The interagency relationships; - The perceptions of community safety among residents of the pilot sites where the RAPID Coordinators worked; and - The relationships between residents and those delivering services in the CSI pilot sites where the RAPID Coordinators worked. - To name the challenges in this approach and responses to these; and - To identify recommendations for next steps, both within Tallaght West and for impacting more widely on policy and practice" (Evaluation Brief). Details: Dublin: Childhood Development Initiative (CDI), 2015. 107p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 5, 2017 at: http://arrow.dit.ie/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1029&context=aaschsslrep Year: 2015 Country: Ireland Keywords: Communities and Crime Shelf Number: 145914 |
Author: Redmond, Sean Title: Lifting the Lid on Greentown. Why we should be concerned about the influence criminal networks have on children's offending behaviour in Ireland Summary: A large body of research exists in relation to youth crime. However, comparatively little is known in relation to the contexts of children who engage in serious offending behaviour and participate in criminal networks. Using a case study design, this study first identified and then examined the behaviour of a criminal network operating in a Garda Sub-District in Ireland in 2010-2011. For the purposes of the study, the Garda Sub-District, which is located outside of Dublin, has been given the pseudonym Greentown. In order to facilitate this examination, Garda analysts constructed a network map for the study using incident data to position 31 individuals aged 11-36 years who had been involved in either burglary or drugs for sale and supply in Greentown in 2010- 2011. Importantly, the map indicated relationships where two or more individuals were involved in the same offence. The map was used as the key reference tool to interview Greentown Garda about the activities and contexts of the individuals identified. The Twinsight method A method called Twinsight was designed to facilitate access to actual case-related data. This involved the use of two near-identical versions of the network map during the interviews with Gardai. In the researcher's version, the name of each individual was replaced with a unique identifying code, e.g. A1, B2, and D1. In the version used by Garda interviewees, the names of the individuals appeared alongside their identifying code. This permitted the researcher and the Garda respondents to talk about the same individuals, with their identities known only to the Garda. Twinsight enabled the production of an authentic narrative around key events, while protecting the identities of the individuals at all times. Key findings It was found that the criminal network which existed in Greentown in 2010-2011 was hierarchical in nature and was governed by a family and kinship-based 'core'. The hierarchical structure was supported by a deeply embedded sympathetic culture in the area, as well as powerful ongoing processes - in particular, patronagebased relationships which shared the rewards of crime among associates, but also generated onerous debt obligations. It was also found that the power and influence of the network is most influenced by the intensity of the relationships between individual members of the network and the network patrons, but geographical proximity between them also plays a role. The overall key finding of the study was that criminal networks play a significant role in encouraging and compelling children to engage in criminal behaviour. The study identified potential applications for the methods used in the project to progress further research on serious youth crime, and outlined some implications for youth crime-related policy. Chapter 1 presents a review of the existing literature, outlining the strengths and limitations of existing mainstream scientific knowledge on youth crime, followed by a more specific review of the literature relating to networks and crime. Chapter 2 outlines the overall methodological strategy and describes how a case study method was operationalised. Chapter 3 presents the research findings. Chapter 4 assesses the study's contribution to the existing body of knowledge, and considers the study's implications for wider policy and practical application. Details: Dublin: Department of Children and Youth Affairs, 2016. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 7, 2017 at: http://ulsites.ul.ie/law/sites/default/files/3910_DCYA_Greentown_%20Full%20report%20final%20version.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Ireland Keywords: Co-offending Shelf Number: 145945 |
Author: Connolly, Johnny. Title: Demanding Money with Menace: Drug-related intimidation and community violence Summary: This report presents the findings of research on drug-related intimidation and community violence in a number of Local and Regional Drugs Task Force areas throughout Ireland. The research was a joint collaboration between Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign and the Health Research Board (HRB). Drug-related intimidation was identified as a key issue by local communities and Drugs Task Forces and identifying effective responses is one of Citywide's key policy objectives. The research consisted of an audit of 140 incidents of intimidation reported to projects in thirteen Drugs Task Forces areas, (eleven Local and two Regional). The audit took place between April 2014 and December 2015. Focus groups were also conducted with eight Local Drugs Task Forces and five Regional Task Forces (approximately 150 people from various local projects attended these meetings). Further focus groups were conducted with Travellers, former prisoners, Youth Workers and Family Support Workers and a Community Safety Forum in Dublin. The objectives of the research were: - To access the hidden experience of intimidation in a way that was sensitive and confidential; - To highlight the situation to policy makers and the wider public - To assist communities in developing locally-based, effective and sustainable responses. Details: Dublin: Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign, 2016. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 14, 2017 at: http://www.drugs.ie/resourcesfiles/ResearchDocs/Ireland/2016/citywide_demanding_money_with_menace_drug_related_intimidation.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Ireland Keywords: Drug-Related Violence Shelf Number: 146175 |
Author: National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol (UK) Title: Prevalence of Drug Use and Gambling in Ireland and Drug Use in Northern Ireland Summary: This Bulletin presents the key findings from the fourth drug prevalence survey of households in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Within Ireland the survey sampled a representative number of people aged 15+ from August 2014 to August 2015. Within Northern Ireland a representative sample of persons aged 15-64 years was selected. The survey was carried out according to standards set by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). Data relating to drug prevalence on a lifetime (ever used), last year (recent) and last month (current) basis for Ireland, Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland are presented in this bulletin. Statistically significant changes in prevalence rates between 2002/03, 2006/07, 2010/11 and 2014/15 are presented in the tables and comparisons between 2010/11 and 2014/15 are discussed in each section. Details: Dublin: National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol (NACDA), 2016. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Bulletin 1: Accessed June 14, 2017 at: http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/26364/1/Bulletin-1.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Ireland Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Shelf Number: 146177 |
Author: Jennings, Philip Title: Melting the Iceberg of Fear: A Collective Response Summary: Intimidation is a serious, insidious and coercive behaviour used by individual/s on others to force them to do something against their will. This behaviour affects victims, members of their family, their friends and the wider community in a variety of negative ways. We all have some idea of intimidation even without any direct personal experience. But we need to understand exactly what intimidation is, who intimidates, where it occurs, how it evolves and when a person is likely to be a victim if we are to tackle this issue in any significant way. One way of understanding what intimidation is and the various effects intimidation has on a person, is to break the word down into its component parts i.e. to intimidate is to browbeat, bulldoze, cow, bully and bludgeon. These words all mean to frighten into submission, compliance, or agreement but each act has its own particular affect on an individual: To intimidate implies the presence of a fear-inducing force or threat of force on a person, family or property. - Browbeat suggests the persistent use of highhanded, disdainful, or domineering tactics. - Bulldoze is to remove all spirit of opposition and develop feelings of complete helplessness and isolation. - To Cow a person is to instil an abject state of timidity, demoralisation and of living in fear as a result of physical/mental abuse, threat or harassment. - Bullies intimidate through loud, overbearing, undermining insidious or threatening behaviours. This paper aims to; (a) highlight who is likely to engage in intimidation (b) who is likely to be a victim (c) What are the causal factors leading to intimidation (e) suggest possible interventions (f) inform future research into intimidation. To assist partner agencies and the wider community to better respond to issues of drug related intimidation and to intimidation / harassment generally. - Bludgeon is the use of violent and forceful methods to insure compliance of another person against their will Details: Dublin: Safer Blanchardstown, 2013. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 15, 2017 at: http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/20566/1/Drug_Debt_Intimidation_Melting_the_Iceberg_of_Fear_Printing_10.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Ireland Keywords: Bullying Shelf Number: 146182 |
Author: O'Hara, Kate Title: Examining The Comparative Use, Experience And Outcomes Of Community Service Orders As Alternatives To Short Prison Sentences in Ireland Summary: Background: In Ireland, under the Criminal Justice (Community Service) 1983 Act, a community service order (CSO) must only be imposed if a custodial sentence has first been considered. In 2011, an amendment to the 1983 Act was made, requiring courts to consider imposing CSOs as alternatives to prison sentences of less than one year. This amendment sought to address the underutilisation of community service, decrease the number of short-term committals, and benefit offenders and communities. Methodology: Administrative data from the Irish Prison and Probation Services pertaining to all cases sentenced to a short-term of imprisonment or CSO between 2011 and 2012, were linked with criminal history and re-arrest data from An Garda Siochana, and comparative analysis conducted. Qualitative interviews with CSO recipients and short-term prisoners were also completed (n = 21). The aims of this analysis were: to investigate the use of CSOs as alternatives to short prison sentences; to compare offender perceptions and experiences of completing these alternative criminal justice sanctions; and to examine comparative recidivism outcomes, using a matched sample approach. Results: In Ireland the CSO is operating as a non-custodial alternative in only some cases. A large proportion of first-time offenders received community service. Those convicted of a drug offence were more likely to receive a CSO, suggesting up-tariffing in some of these cases. Interview participants did not considered the CSO as truly interchangeable with imprisonment, but as a sanction for those considered redeemable. Further, it seems judges operate in a punitive safe space when imposing CSOs. A null effect was detected when re-arrest outcomes for CSOs and short terms of imprisonment were compared. Conclusions: Enhancements in policy, practice, and research are required if reforms aimed at decreasing the use of imprisonment are to be successfully introduced, and community service considered an acceptable substitute to imprisonment. Details: Dublin: Dublin Institute of Technology, 2016. 430p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed January 17, 2018 at: https://arrow.dit.ie/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1067&context=appadoc Year: 2016 Country: Ireland Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Shelf Number: 148786 |
Author: Irish Penal Reform Trust Title: Community Service in Ireland: A qualitative exploration of one alternative to short-term imprisonment Summary: Our Discussion Paper Community Service in Ireland, is based on the doctoral research of Dr O'Hara. IPRT believes that Ireland's penal policy should be focused on non-custodial responses to crime, with rehabilitation and social integration at its centre. The paper outlines key points regarding the use of community service, such as: Community service is under-utilised in Ireland as an alternative to imprisonment. There is a clear variability in the use of community service orders across court jurisdictions in Ireland. Community service can provide offenders with an opportunity to improve self-esteem, to gain a strong daily routine, and to maintain links with family. There is a strong association between community service and future work or training prospects. Short periods of imprisonment can have long-lasting negative effects, including disruption to family relationships, contact with social or community services, and loss of employment. The IPRT Discussion Paper also outlines 20 key recommendations as to how community service could be better utilised in Ireland. If implemented, IPRT believes that these recommendations would help promote consistency in the use of CSOs as an alternative to imprisonment nationally, enhance public confidence in its effectiveness as a response to offending behaviour, and achieve the full potential of non-custodial alternatives. Examples of these recommendations are as follows: The principle of imprisonment as a last resort should be enshrined in legislation, with a mandatory provision that judges must provide written reasons where a custodial sentence of less than 12 months is imposed instead of a non-custodial alternative. The Criminal Justice (Community Sanctions) Bill should be progressed. A comprehensive review of the operation of community service at national level should be undertaken in order to evaluate its current effectiveness. The average time taken to complete CSOs in each court jurisdiction should be monitored and published. This is important if the credibility of the sanction as a true alternative to custody is to be enhanced. Gender-specific non-custodial community-service orders, which take into account the complex needs of women who offend, should be developed and made available on a nationwide basis. Details: Dublin: IPRT, 2017. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: IPRT Discussion Paper: Accessed January 17, 2018 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/IPRT_Discussion_Paper_-_Community_Service_in_Ireland_FINAL.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Ireland Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Shelf Number: 148787 |
Author: Irish Penal Reform Trust Title: Progress in the Penal System (PIPS): A framework for penal reform (2017) Summary: Progress in the Penal System (PIPS) sets out a clear vision for the future of Ireland's penal system, with an ambition for Ireland to lead as a model of international best practice. The overall purpose of PIPS is to monitor and assess progress across a broad range of issues in Ireland's penal system over three years. To achieve this, IPRT has developed a series of 35 standards and indicators against which progress will be tracked over three years, with a series of short-term actions recommended for implementation each year. These recommended actions are intended to help facilitate continued progress in Ireland's penal system and, more specifically, the prison system in Ireland. While criminal justice stakeholders are assigned responsibility for implementation of these shortterm actions throughout the report, it must be strongly acknowledged that overall responsibility remains with the State in terms of oversight and provision of adequate resourcing to relevant bodies. The PIPS project is also intended as a means to inform a wide array of stakeholders, including: criminal justice stakeholders, politicians, media, the general public and international audiences interested in learning about the current state of the Irish penal system in comparison with other jurisdictions. Finally, the overall aim of the PIPS project is to encourage constructive dialogue between a range of relevant stakeholders, which IPRT hopes will be strengthened as the project progresses. Details: Dublin: IPRT, 2017. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 17, 2018 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/Progress_in_the_Penal_System.compressed_.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Ireland Keywords: Correctional Administration Shelf Number: 148788 |
Author: Haynes, Amanda Title: STAD: Stop transphobia and discrimination report: 2014-2016 Summary: The STAD (Stop Transphobia and Discrimination) reporting system seeks to record manifestations of transphobia, give voice to the experiences of trans people, and provide an evidence base for policy and legislative change for trans rights in Ireland. Launched in 2013, the first report of its findings was published in June 2014. This report covers the period 2014-2016. A total of 79 reports were made to STAD in this period, 74 related to the Republic of Ireland and five to Northern Ireland. Fifty reports related experiences of hate crime (46 of which occurred in the Republic of Ireland). Thirty-three reports related experiences of noncrime hostile actions including discrimination, harmful digital communications and everyday microaggressions (32 of which occurred in the Republic of Ireland). Details: Dublin: Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI), 2017. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 18, 2018 at: https://ulir.ul.ie/bitstream/handle/10344/6314/STAD%20-%20Stop%20Transphobia%20and%20Discrimination%20Report%202014-2016.pdf?sequence=2 Year: 2017 Country: Ireland Keywords: Bias Crimes Shelf Number: 148866 |
Author: Martynowicz, Agnieszke Title: 'Behind the Door': Solitary Confinement in the Irish Penal System Summary: This report contains 25 key recommendations centring on the use of solitary confinement and restricted regimes in Ireland. Our goal is ambitious but achievable - the abolition of solitary confinement in Ireland in the short term and the gradual elimination of the use of restricted regimes with the ultimate target of 12 hours out-of-cell time daily for all prisoners across the prison estate. Some of the key recommendations arising from the report include: The placement in solitary confinement of adults with mental health difficulties or mental or physical disabilities should be prohibited. Where a prisoner requests to be kept on protection for an extended period, this should be kept under constant review. The Irish Prison Service should research and develop a range of initiatives to address violence in prisons. These may include, but should not be limited to, restorative justice approaches and weapons amnesties. Prisoners on protection or other restricted regimes should be provided with meaningful access to work, training and education, as well as other activities and services. As far as possible this should be in association with other prisoners. The Irish Prison Service should regularly collect and publish data relating to the length of time prisoners spend on restricted regimes in all prisons. Details: Dublin: Irish Penal Reform trust, 2018. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed March 8, 2018 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/Solitary_Confinement_web.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Ireland Keywords: Inmate Discipline Shelf Number: 149324 |
Author: Global Detention Project Title: Immigration Detention in Ireland: Will Better Detention Mean More Detention? Summary: Ireland does not emphasize detention in its migration and asylum policies, nor does it face the same migratory pressures as some of its EU partners. Nevertheless, because the country fails to separate its few immigration detainees, who are placed in prisons, from people in criminal procedures, the country has faced significant international criticism. Officials have long-standing plans to open a dedicated immigration detention facility, but while such a move may bring the country into compliance with some international norms, it may also lead to more people being detained. Details: Geneva, SWIT: Global Detention Project, 2018. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 28, 2018 at: https://www.globaldetentionproject.org/immigration-detention-in-ireland-will-better-detention-mean-more-detention Year: 2018 Country: Ireland Keywords: Asylum Seekers Shelf Number: 149595 |
Author: Nasc, the Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre Title: Immigration Detention and Border Control in Ireland: Revisiting Irish Law, Policy and Practice Summary: This report examines immigration related detention, refusals of leave to land at ports of entry and the issue of transparency and accountability in border management. This report examines domestic legal rules and practice in light of international human rights standards and relevant EU law, detailing the gaps that exist. The research employs statistical information from the Irish Prison Service (IPS), Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS), the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) / the International Protection Office (IPO), the Central Statistics Office (CSO), and other available sources, in addition to interviews with individuals who have experienced the realities of immigration-related detention in Ireland. The report explores the factors that influence decision-making vis a vis the detention of immigrants including asylum seekers and people facing deportation, documenting best practice, as well as instances of problematic treatment of individuals, where found to exist. The project also examines the role of legal practitioners and makes the case for greater recourse to alternatives to detention in the immigration context. Details: Cork: Nasc, 2018. 74p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 2, 2018 at: http://emn.ie/files/p_20180314053303Nasc-Immigration-Detention-Border-Control-in-Ireland_2018.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Ireland Keywords: Asylum Seekers Shelf Number: 149652 |
Author: Haynes, Amanda Title: Lifecycle of a Hate Crime: Country Report for Ireland Summary: This research is the Irish report of a five jurisdiction study which seeks to understand the Lifecycle of a Hate Crime as it navigates through the criminal justice process. The other partners to the research are the Czech Republic, Latvia, Sweden, and England and Wales. The project adopted the definition of a hate crime as promulgated by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), that is: "... criminal acts committed with a bias motive. It is this motive that makes hate crimes different from other crimes. A hate crime is not one particular offence. It could be an act of intimidation, threats, property damage, assault, murder or any other criminal offence. The term "hate crime" or "bias crime", therefore, describes a type of crime, rather than a specific offence within a penal code. A person may commit a hate crime in a country where there is no specific criminal sanction on account of bias or prejudice. The term describes a concept, rather than a legal definition." The purpose of this research was to understand and explore the Lifecycle of a Hate Crime in the Irish criminal justice process. The objectives of the research across all five jurisdictions were to: - Detail the operational realities of hate crime legislation by gathering experiential accounts of the legislation 'in action' from legal professionals; - Document differences in both victims' and offenders' experiences of the criminal justice process according to the legislative and policy context; and - Identify shortfalls in the legislative responses to Article 4 of the Frame- work Decision on Racism and Xenophobia. To this end, the research partners were tasked with conducting a doctrinal analysis of hate crime legislation in each jurisdiction; exploring policies pertaining to policing and prosecutorial functions in relation to hate crime; conducting a secondary analysis of statistics on the recording, prosecution and sentencing of hate crime; and conducting interviews with victims, previous offenders, judges, prosecutors, and defense practitioners. The research sought to illuminate the period between 2011 and 2016. Details: Dublin: ICCL, 2017. 216p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 7, 2018 at: https://www.iccl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hate-Crime-Report-LR-WEB.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Ireland Keywords: Bias-Motivated Crimes Shelf Number: 150086 |
Author: McIntyre, T.J. Title: Criminals, Data Protection and the Right to a Second Chance Summary: In 2016 Ireland belatedly introduced legislation to allow for the expungement of adult criminal records and, in doing so, highlighted a changing technological and legal context which challenges the assumptions underlying rehabilitation laws. The potential impact of convictions on individuals' life chances has increased as mandatory vetting has become more widespread. Even where vetting is not required, internet search engines render criminal histories easily accessible to curious third parties. In the other direction, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) have developed privacy and data protection principles which require states to limit the availability of information about old convictions. In this article we outline the limitations of the Irish legislation and use it as a case study to consider these wider issues, examining how it illustrates the growing importance of European privacy and data protection norms in national criminal justice and rehabilitation systems. Details: (2017) 58 Irish Jurist (ns) 27. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 8, 2018 at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3150591 Year: 2017 Country: Ireland Keywords: Criminal Records Shelf Number: 150108 |
Author: Barry, Colette Title: Encountering Death in the Prison; An Exploration of Irish Prison Staff Experiences, Emotions and Engagements With Support. Summary: This thesis examines prison staff experiences of the deaths of prisoners in custody. It explores staff accounts of their encounters with prisoner deaths, their emotional responses to these incidents and their engagement with support in the aftermath of their experiences. This thesis represents the first Irish research focused exclusively on prison staff encounters with prisoner deaths. In so doing, it illuminates Irish prison staff practices, sensibilities and traditions. Despite increasing scholarship on the working lives and traditions of prison staff, and greater awareness arising from a small number of studies of staff experiences of prisoner suicide, there remains little research exploring prison staff encounters with prisoner deaths. This thesis seeks to address this gap by presenting an exploration of Irish prison staff experiences of prisoner deaths in custody. It also builds on existing research by offering the first account of prison staff encounters with prisoner deaths by examining causes of death in addition to that of suicide. A qualitative research design is employed, consisting of in-depth semi-structured interviews with 17 serving and retired Irish prison staff who have experienced a death in custody. This thesis charts the chronology of participants' encounters with prisoner deaths, analysing their accounts of the emergency response to deaths in custody before moving to consider the immediate and long-term aftermath of these incidents in individual and institutional contexts. The thesis finds that the norms of solidarity and insularity, identified in the extant prison work literature as central tenets of the occupational culture of prison staff, direct staff responses and attitudes in these situations. The findings highlight participants' perceptions of blame and concerns about a risk of personal liability in shaping their perspectives on prisoner deaths, the prisoner population and the prison authorities. This thesis additionally contends that a death in custody calls upon staff to not only manage the incident, but also their own emotional reactions and vulnerabilities. Shared expectations regarding the management of emotional responses to prisoner deaths promote the necessity of concealing post-incident vulnerabilities inside the prison. The thesis argues that the implications of involvement with a death in custody can often find life beyond the boundaries of the prison walls. Details: Dublin: Dublin Institute of Technology, 2017. 410p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed may 11, 2018 at: https://arrow.dit.ie/appadoc/77/ Year: 2017 Country: Ireland Keywords: Corrections Officers Shelf Number: 150164 |
Author: Houses of the Oireachtas. Joint Committee on Justice and Equality Title: Report on Penal Reform and Sentencing Summary: The issue of penal and criminal law reform has received considerable attention in recent years, and a number of significant reports have been published on it, as outlined in Table 1, below. The Joint Committee on Justice and Equality, in revisiting the subject in 2017, sought to combine this evidence with the insights and perspectives of a number of stakeholder groups in order to identify specific legal or policy actions which can be taken to reduce the number of people who receive custodial sentences, improve conditions in prison, and improve support for prisoners post-release. In March 2013, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality produced a Report on Penal Reform, which made five key recommendations: 1) Reduce prison numbers The report recommended the adoption of a "decarceration strategy" - a declared intention by the Government to reduce the prison population by one-third over a ten-year period. 2)Commute prison sentences of less than six months That all sentences for under six months' imprisonment imposed in respect of non-violent offences should be commuted and replaced with community service orders. 3) Increase standard remission from one quarter to one third and introduce an incentivised remission scheme of up to one half That standard remission should be increased from one quarter to one third of all eligible sentences of over one month in length. An enhanced remission scheme of up to one half should be made available on an incentivised basis for certain categories of prisoner, particularly those serving a prison sentence for the first time. 4)Introduce legislation providing for structured release, temporary release, parole and community return That a single piece of legislation should be introduced that would set out the basis for a structured release system, to include proposed changes to remission set out above, and to temporary release and parole; and provide a statutory framework for an expanded community return programme. 5)Address prison conditions and overcrowding, and increase the use of open prisons That structured release and incentivised remission programmes could not operate effectively within prisons unless prison conditions are improved and overcrowding tackled. In addition, actions should be taken to improve conditions within prisons generally. The proportion of open prisons should also be increased. Whilst some reforms have been introduced and progress made in the years since the 2013 report, the current Joint Committee on Justice and Equality was of the view that much more remained to be done, and thus it made penal reform and sentencing a key priority issue in its 2017 Work Programme. Details: Dublin: Houses of the Oireachtas, 2018. 151p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 10, 2018 at: https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/32/joint_committee_on_justice_and_equality/reports/2018/2018-05-10_report-on-penal-reform-and-sentencing_en.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Ireland Keywords: Criminal Justice Reform Shelf Number: 150806 |
Author: Irish Prison Service Title: Self-harm in Irish Prisons 2017: First report from the Self-Harm Assessment and Data Analysis (SADA) Project Summary: This is the first report on episodes of self-harm recorded in Irish Prisons arising from the Self-Harm Assessment and Data Analysis (SADA) Project, relating to the year 2017. Main findings -- - Between 01 January and 31 December 2017, there were 223 episodes of self-harm recorded in Irish Prisons, involving 138 individuals. The majority of prisoners were male (80%) and the mean age was 32 years. - The annual person-based rate of self-harm was 4.0 per 100 prisoners. Thus, an episode of self-harm was recorded for 4% of the prison population. The rate of self-harm was 4.4 times higher among female prisoners (16.0 versus 3.6 per 100). Compared with sentenced prisoners, the rate of self-harm was 2.4 times higher among prisoners on remand (7.4 versus 3.1 per 100). The rate of self-harm was highest among prisoners aged 18-29 years, at 5.0 per 100 prisoners. The rate of self-harm was highest for male prisoners among those aged 18-24 years (5.0 per 100) and for female prisoners among 25-29 year-olds (12.0 per 100). - Episodes of self-harm were more likely to occur on weekdays, with one in five (22%) episodes occurring on Tuesdays. More than half of episodes (52%) occurred between 2pm and 8pm. Most episodes (60%) occurred while prisoners were unlocked from cells. - One-quarter of individuals engaged in self-harm more than once during the calendar year, and this was more pronounced for male prisoners - 26% of male prisoners repeated self-harm compared with 16% of female prisoners. - The most common method of self-harm recorded was self-cutting or scratching, present in 62% of all episodes. The other common method of self-harm was attempted hanging, involved in 21% of episodes. Methods of self-harm were similar for male and female prisoners. - Three-quarters (77%) of self-harm episodes involved prisoners in single cell accommodation. Considering the overall prison population, 53% were accommodated in single cells in 2017. While 44% of prisoners who engaged in self-harm were in general population accommodation, a - No medical treatment was required in more than one-third (39%) of episodes. Almost half (46%) required minimal intervention or local wound management in the prison and one in eight (14%) required hospital (inpatient or outpatient) treatment. In 2017, there were four episodes of self-harm (2%) which resulted in the loss of life. The severity of self-harm was elevated among male prisoners. - Half (54%) of self-harm episodes were recorded as having no / low degree of suicidal intent, with 29% having medium intent. Approximately one in six (17%) were deemed to have a high degree of suicidal intent. - A high degree of suicidal intent was evident in 15% of the self-harm episodes that did not require medical treatment. High intent cases were only slightly more prevalent, at 21%, among episodes that required local or outpatient treatment. - There was a range of contributory factors associated with the episodes of self-harm recorded, relating to environmental, relational, procedural, medical and mental health factors. The majority (58%) of factors related to mental health issues, 38% to relational issues and 36% to environmental issues. - The four fatal episodes of self-harm involved male prisoners who were on remand. Multiple contributory factors were associated with these deaths. Details: Longford: Irish Prison Service, 2018. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 14, 2018 at: https://www.irishprisons.ie/wp-content/uploads/documents_pdf/Prison-self-harm-annual-report-2017.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Ireland Keywords: Prison Health Shelf Number: 153460 |
Author: Probation Board for Northern Ireland Title: Evaluation of the Enhanced Combination Order Pilot Summary: Executive Summary 1.1 Overall The qualitative and quantitative evidence highlighted in this evaluation shows that the initiative has been successful in achieving its aims. The ECO pilot has been shown to be an effective programme for participants who valued the support it provided. The commitment of the staff involved was evident across all the evaluation activities and the high regard in which they were held by participants was demonstrated during the client focus groups. The initiative has been embraced by the Judiciary and the number of custodial sentences of 12 months or less, awarded by courts involved in the ECO pilot, decreased by 10.5 percent between 2015 and 2016. While there was also a reduction in the overall number of short term sentences across all the NI courts, at 2.4 percent this was lower than that across the pilot areas suggesting that ECO was impacting on prison numbers although further work is required to see if this trend continues. This reduction in custodial sentences with the resultant decrease in tax payer costs was identified as a major benefit of the pilot. The indicative costs of ECOs has been estimated at 9k per annum, which on top of the clearly beneficial social impact, the reduced re-offending rate and focus on victim issues, indicates a sentence which provides excellent value for money and better outcomes in comparison to short prison sentences. In addition there are positive and encouraging indications regarding impact on reoffending. The offending rate for a cohort of 52 ECO participants in the six months prior to being sentenced to an ECO was 57.7 percent. In the six months post sentencing, the reoffending rate at 17.3 percent was significantly lower. 1.2 Context At May 2015, statistics showed that 88 percent of prison sentences were for 12 months or less. Research has shown that short prison sentences are less effective in addressing offending behaviours than community-based disposals because there is little that can be done in practical terms to rehabilitate offenders during a short prison stay; the re-offending rate for those sentenced to a short prison term was also shown to be greater than 50 percent. The Lord Chief Justice therefore requested that the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) develop a demanding community sentence as an alternative to the high number of short prison sentences of less than 12 months. Following consultation with DOJ, PSNI and PPS, it was agreed that PBNI would pilot an intensive community sentence as an option for Judges in the Ards and Armagh & South Down court divisions. Termed the Enhanced Combination Order (ECO), it was based on existing legislation and offered Judges an existing community option in a more intensive format. ECOs focussed on rehabilitation, victim issues, restorative practice and desistance. They also included a focus on mental health, parenting/family issues and an assessment by PBNI Psychologists. The requirements on offenders subject to such orders were to: - complete unpaid work within local communities at an accelerated pace, - participate in victim focussed work, and if possible, a restorative intervention, - undergo assessment and, if appropriate, mental health interventions with PBNI psychology staff, - participate in parenting/family support work if applicable, - complete an accredited programme, if appropriate, such as Thinking Skills, - undertake intensive offending focussed work with their Probation Officer (PO). This report summarises the findings from an evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the initiative and gather evidence to establish the extent to which these requirements are being met. 1.3 Approach The ECO initiative, operational since 1st October 2015, is scheduled to run until September 2017. This report uses administrative data and qualitative information gathered through surveys, interviews and focus groups with participants, Probation staff, Judges and stakeholders to identify progress made during the first 18 months. By 10th March 2017, 136 offenders had been subject to an ECO; of these 13 had completed the order, 12 had been revoked and 111 were actively engaged; 22 breaches were recorded during the period including the 12 participants who were revoked. 1.4 Outcomes Offending focussed work It was evident from the written comments recorded in the data sheet that POs were working extensively on the requirement to undertake intensive offending focussed work with participants, exploring the impact of participants behaviour on victims, their family and the community. In general participants also thought that the order had helped them address their problems and the way they thought about their future offending behaviour. Participants often demonstrated a high level of respect for their PO/Probation Services Officer (PSO) and were keen not to let them down'. Due to the timing of this evaluation it is only possible to provide a comparison between the re-offending rates six months before the ECO was made and six months after the ECO was made. While results should be viewed with caution due to the small numbers and the limited time frames involved, the re-offending rate in the six months post sentencing was significantly lower than in the six months prior to being sentenced to an ECO. While 37 participants re-offended while on the pilot, qualitative evidence suggests that the intense support helped reduce re-offending among some. Accredited Programmes The completion of an accredited programme, if appropriate, was a requirement of the ECO pilot and over one third of participants had additional requirements attached to their order, mainly Drug/Alcohol Counselling, Thinking Skills and Treatment Programmes. By March 2017, approximately one third of participants had taken part in at least one programme, some of which had been recommended during the Psychology assessments. The Thinking Skills and Human Faces courses were identified as particularly effective and some participants who initially felt such interventions weren't necessary for them had found their course really beneficial. Support with employment was also available through Community and Voluntary Sector initiatives such as ACCESS (support to increase employability), Work Routes and People First, and in Newry an external adviser provided guidance on education and potential job related opportunities. The data showed that at least five participants had obtained employment during their time on the order. Parenting/Family Support Just over half of participants were reported to need support with parenting/family issues. The requirement therefore to participate in parenting/family work was appropriate for them and by March 2017 around one quarter of all participants had undertaken work/received support in this area. Participants were reported to have engaged well and along with Probation staff viewed this element of the order very favourably. Examples were provided across the research of the impact this aspect had on family life including gaining access to and custody of children. The support provided by Barnardos was highly valued with the primary aim to increase parental understanding of the impact offending had on childrens welfare and life chances. It was evident that this aim was being achieved through conversations with focus group participants. In addition to the work related to parenting, support was also provided to those experiencing marital difficulties and family members of participants with addiction and mental health issues. Psychological Assessment Undergoing an assessment and, if appropriate, mental health interventions with PBNI psychology staff was a further ECO requirement. At the time of the evaluation just under half of participants had gone or were going through the psychological assessment process; referrals had been made in around a further fifth of cases. Staff and participants were generally very positive of this element, particularly as issues with alcohol/substance misuse, previous life traumas and mental health were challenges for many participants. The one to one work undertaken by the Psychologists as well as their recommended interventions/programmes were viewed very favourably and over two fifths of participants were recorded as having undertaken mental health or addiction related work. Details: Belfast, Ireland: 2017. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 9, 2019 at: https://www.pbni.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/ECO-Evaluation_Final-Report-04.12.17.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Ireland Keywords: Community Sentence Shelf Number: 154018 |
Author: Carr, Nicola Title: Care and Justice: Children and Young People in Care and Contact with the Criminal Justice System Summary: The Irish Penal Reform Trust launched an independently commissioned exploratory research study on the connections between care and justice in Ireland on Tuesday 26th February 2019. Care and Justice: Children and Young People in Care and Contact with the Criminal Justice System was supported by a Private Donor Fund at the Community Foundation for Ireland. Research evidence from several countries shows that children with care experience are over-represented in the criminal justice system but, to date, no research has been conducted on this topic in the Irish context. This report aimed to explore the extent to which children with care experience are over-represented in the Irish youth justice system. The report was authored by Dr Nicola Carr (University of Nottingham) and Dr Paula Mayock (Trinity College). The report highlights that contact with the youth justice system is a particular issue for a small cohort of young people. The association between care and justice is an area of concern, particularly at the 'higher end' of the youth justice system, that is, when children are prosecuted in the courts and are placed in detention. This is identified as an issue for children with multiple and complex needs, many of whom are accommodated within residential care. Systemic factors including the profile of care provision, the prosecution of children in care placements and the responsiveness of the youth justice system to children in care are explored. This report identifies a lack of data in Ireland on the extent to which children in care come into contact with the criminal justice system. There is a lack of a coordinated policy between Tusla, care providers and An Garda Siochana in this area and the development of such a policy is recommended. The report also focuses on the transition of children from care into leaving care and aftercare and the lack of information on outcomes for this group. The need for reform is outlined in 12 recommendations made in the report. These include: A joint protocol aimed at addressing the involvement of children in care with the criminal justice system should be developed by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Irish Youth Justice Service with the involvement of An Garda Sochana and Tusla. The Irish Youth Justice Service should consider adaptations to the Bail Support Scheme to ensure equity of service provision for young people in care. Tusla should develop a mechanism to systematically record and report on the numbers of children in care and those in receipt of aftercare services coming into contact with the criminal justice system. In its review of the Youth Justice Action Plan, the Irish Youth Justice Service should consider the specific needs of care-experienced young people. Tusla should revise its guidance on Complex Needs in Aftercare to provide explicit guidance on the needs and supports required for young people in contact with the criminal justice system. Details: Dublin: Irish Penal Reform Trust, 2019. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 10, 2019 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/Care-and-Justice-web.pdf Year: 2019 Country: Ireland Keywords: Child Protection Shelf Number: 155356 |
Author: O'Donnell, Ian Title: Penal culture in Ireland Summary: The imprisonment rate in Ireland is low relative to the rest of the common law world and compares favourably with other EU countries. In recent years it has declined. However, it would be misleading to interpret these trends as evidence of a national commitment to leniency or a coherent strategy of penal parsimony. Before we turn our attention to contemporary arrangements a brief historical digression is required. Punishment is about more than imprisonment and, especially during the first half-century after its foundation in 1922, the Irish state made extensive use of institutions outside the criminal justice system to deal with the deviant and the difficult. 'Coercive confinement' is the term coined by OSullivan and ODonnell (2007) to embrace the range of sites where men, women and children were held against their will. These included prisons, Borstal, reformatory and industrial schools, mother and baby homes, psychiatric hospitals, and Magdalen homes. While some of these places were supposedly oriented towards treatment or training rather than punishment, they were felt by their inmates to be austere, degrading, and stigmatising. Details: Dublin: University College Dublin, Sutherland School of Law, 2019. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: UCD Working Papers in Law, Criminology & Socio-Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2/2019: Accessed April 18, 2019 at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3339893 Year: 2019 Country: Ireland Keywords: Imprisonment Shelf Number: 155452 |
Author: Kilpatrick, Alyson Title: A Human-Rights Based Approach to Policing in Ireland Summary: This report considers whether and, if so, how, a human rights-based approach to policing can influence the reform of policing in Ireland. In particular, this report draws on experience gained from the process of reform in Northern Ireland where the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) adopted a human rights-based approach to policing, overseen and monitored by the Northern Ireland Policing Board. This report examines the legal framework (both international and domestic) which sets the standards for the Garda Siochana, the current practice of the Garda Siochana in meeting those standards and lessons which can be learned from Northern Ireland. I also offer recommendations aimed at achieving a human rights-compliant policing service. This report does not, and could not in the relatively limited time frame available, cover all areas of policing or address all issues of concern. Moreover, as noted at various places in this report, there is limited access to garda policy, training and practice so analysis without full access is necessarily restricted. That in itself must be addressed as the reform programme proceeds. This report does however offer an overview informed by analysis of a number of specific areas about which concern has been raised. I have chosen those areas for closer scrutiny because they provide a useful prism through which to view the Garda Siochana as a whole. It is hoped that this report will contribute to the current debate and the important work of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. I recognise that the reform of policing in Ireland is at a very early stage, with much more work to be done. A wholesale process of reform will be required. That will be labour intensive and will require the dedication of resources and expertise. It will however be repaid when a rights-based policing service emerges which is professional, legitimate and fully supported by the public it is there to serve. I include for convenience a free-standing Appendix containing all of the most relevant international and domestic law which applies to policing. I have deliberately chosen to include substantial amounts of legal information and analysis so that the legal basis for what is recommended is clear. Contents: Chapter 1: A human rights-based approach to reform: what is it and why adopt it? Chapter 2: An Garda Siochana: culture and ethos Chapter 3: Policing of public order and protest Chapter 4: Use of force Chapter 5: Suspects and detainees Chapter 6: Racist hate crime Chapter 7: State security Chapter 8: Implementing a human rights-based approach: A step by step guide Details: Dublin: Irish Council for Civil Liberties, 2018. 144p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 6, 2019 at: Year: 2018 Country: Ireland Keywords: Human Rights Shelf Number: 155668 |
Author: Lima, Adaiana Souza Title: ECPAT Country Overview: Ireland Summary: The Republic of Ireland has an estimated population of 4,72 million inhabitants, out of which 1,19 million are children. The country was hit hard by the 2007-2008 financial crisis and the ensuing austerity measures, which worsened the national levels of poverty and homelessness. Although a developed country, Ireland still suffers from social inequality and income disparity, which are risk factors for the sexual exploitation of children (SEC). Data on the exploitation of children in prostitution is limited in Ireland, but the presence of children in brothels has been reported with victims being predominantly Irish or EU citizens. The country has a high rate of mobile phone and Internet usage, which can increase the risk of online child sexual exploitation (OCSE), such as online grooming. Ireland continues to be a destination country and is increasingly becoming a source country for child victims of trafficking for sexual purposes. The sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism (SECTT) is also an issue with offenders taking advantage of cheap airfares and developed transport networks to commit crimes abroad. Furthermore, children have been involved in recent years in cross-border crimes, which include trafficking for the purpose of sham and forced marriages. The country has ratified some of the most relevant legal instruments in the fight against SEC, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour; but it has yet to ratify the CRC's Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (OPSC), and the Council of Europes Lanzarote and Budapest Conventions. The country also established partnerships with international agencies to combat SEC. Recent years has seen progress in terms of legislation to protect children from SEC, notably with the enactment of a Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017, which criminalises new offences relating to SEC. However, a victim-centred approach is still missing in the Irish legislation. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Justice and Equality both play pivotal roles in putting together policies to protect children. So far, they have implemented a National Policy Framework for Children & Young People, and a National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat Human Trafficking in Ireland, which both address aspects of SEC. However, Ireland's Special Rapporteur on Child Protection has highlighted gaps in the National Action Plan. In terms of prevention measures, the country has launched several sensitisation campaigns and it provides therapeutic support for child sex offenders to reduce risks of recidivism. In terms of children's access to justice, there is no national complaint mechanism adapted for child victims, which takes into consideration their specific vulnerabilities. They nevertheless have the right to be accompanied by a solicitor and/or another person of their choice when reporting a crime. Furthermore, when all domestic remedies have been tried, children have the possibility to turn to international bodies such as the European Court of Human Rights and/or the CRC Committee to submit a complaint. Some forms of child-sensitive measures are in place, such as accompaniment of the child throughout court proceedings, but the country does not yet have specific recovery and reintegration services for child victims of SEC, and it could benefit from having clearer avenues for victims to seek compensation. Although mechanisms promoting children's participation in Irish governance are recognised and included in a provision by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, more progress needs to be made to consult and take into consideration the needs and interests of child victims and survivors in particular. Details: Bangkok: ECPAT International, 2018. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 20, 2019 at: https://www.protectingchildrenintourism.org/ecpat-releases-latest-country-overview-on-ireland/ Year: 2018 Country: Ireland Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Shelf Number: 155931 |
Author: Immigrant Council of Ireland Title: Comparative Report: Disrupt Demand Summary: This report specifically focuses on measures to address demand for the purchase of sex from victims of human trafficking and from women and girls exploited in prostitution. Section 2 contextualises the issue of demand for the purchase of sex from victims of trafficking within the wider context of the gendered nature of trafficking and the commercial sex trade, into which the majority of girls and women are trafficked. Section 3 is drawn from the six national reports providing an analysis of the response to demand in the six countries, including: the profile of women who are prostituted and trafficked; the profile of the buyers of sex; analysis of the current legal and policy frameworks; the enforcement and implementation of the laws addressing demand; the wider approach to the criminalisation of the organisers who facilitate and profit from supplying girls and women to meet demand; and public awareness campaigns addressing demand. Where empirical studies are directly cited from the national reports they are referenced in this text and further research, government data and reports cited in the national reports are listed in Appendix 2 to facilitate ease of reading. The outcomes of this project and this comparative report will contribute to our understanding of the effectiveness of measures to address demand in Member States. Details: Dublin: Author, 2018. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 12, 2019 at: https://www.immigrantcouncil.ie/sites/default/files/2018-11/ICI%20AntiTrafficking%20Report2018-A4-WEBSITE-FA.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Ireland Keywords: Human Trafficking Shelf Number: 156397 |
Author: Brown, Kevin J. Title: Improving Access to Justice for Older Victims of Crime: Older People as Victims of Crime and the Response of the Criminal Justice System in Northern Ireland Summary: This report examines how to improve access to justice for older victims of crime in Northern Ireland. It explores crime against older people in Northern Ireland and responses to it by the criminal justice system. An older person is defined for the purposes of this study as anyone aged 60 or over. - The Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland commissioned this research. Researchers from the School of Law at Queen's University Belfast conducted the study. The first phase of research study was undertaken from January - July 2016. The second phase was conducted between January - April 2018. A further update was made January - March 2019. -The study had a number of aims: (1) to better understand the experiences and expectations of older people when they are victims of crime in Northern Ireland, particularly in relation to their interactions with the agencies of the criminal justice system. (2) to better understand how the criminal justice agencies, in particular the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Public Prosecution Service of Northern Ireland (PPS) respond to crimes involving older people as victims. (3) to make any relevant recommendations based on the research findings. -This research study adopted a mixed methods approach combining analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. A statistical analysis of PSNI and PPS statistics was undertaken. In addition, interviews and focus groups were conducted with older people including those who have been victims of crime, as well as family members of older victims. Interviews and focus groups were also conducted with staff from the PSNI, PPS, Victim and Witness Crime Unit and Victim Support NI. The analysis of the results was informed by existing literature. Details: Belfast, Ireland: Queen's University, Belfast, 2019. 242p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 17, 2019 at: https://researchmgt.monash.edu/ws/portalfiles/portal/271883038/Improving_Access_to_Justice_for_Older_Victims_of_Crime_Technical_Report_K_Brown_and_F_Gordon_.pdf Year: 2019 Country: Ireland Keywords: Access to Justice Shelf Number: 156472 |
Author: Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland Title: No Excuse: Public Protection Inspection II: A Thematic Inspection of the Handling of Domestic Violence and Abuse Cases by the Criminal Justice System in Northern Ireland Summary: The issue of domestic violence and abuse in Northern Ireland (NI): Domestic abuse covers a range of behaviours which range from persistent and unwanted contact via telephone calls, text messages and harassing behaviour through to physical assaults and ultimately, in the worst cases, death by homicide. Domestic abuse occurs between partners, ex-partners, (step-) parents and (step-) children, siblings and grandparents and grandchildren. It affects people from every background with particular issues faced by women, men, children, older people, people with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual people (LGBT) and people from ethnic minorities. In 2017-18 the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) recorded the highest level of domestic abuse incidents and crimes since the data series began in 2004-05. The 29,913 domestic abuse incidents equated to one reported domestic abuse incident approximately every 17 minutes. Of these incidents, 14,560 were crimes with just under three quarters recorded as violence against the person. In 2017-18 there were 23 murders in total in Northern Ireland, of which 11 occurred in a domestic context (four of which related to one family). Over the last 10 years there have been an average of six domestic homicides per year. The Northern Ireland Crime Survey suggests at least one in 25 adults experienced domestic abuse in the last three years. In terms of outcomes recorded by the police, three in five offences committed in a domestic context did not progress to prosecution due to evidential difficulties and in more than two fifths, the victim did not wish to engage with/support or continue to support the criminal justice process. Data collected for this inspection suggests that around a third of cases did not meet the evidential or public interest tests required to proceed to a prosecution and just under a third resulted in a conviction at court. This inspection considered the approach of the criminal justice system in handling cases of domestic violence and abuse. Details: Belfast, UK: Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, 2019. 124p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 21, 2019 at: http://www.cjini.org/getattachment/079beabb-d094-40e9-8738-0f84cd347ae8/report.aspx Year: 2019 Country: Ireland Keywords: Domestic Abuse Shelf Number: 156567 |
Author: Irish Law Reform Commission Title: Harmful Communications and Digital Safety Summary: The Report forms part of the Commission's Fourth Programme of Law Reform and contains 32 recommendations for reform. The Report includes a draft Harmful Communications and Digital Safety Bill intended to implement these reforms. Background: the digital world and its benefits; and the negative side: harmful communication. The Report notes that the revolution in telecoms and digital media has brought enormous positive benefits, because it has facilitated a new form of online and digital consumer society and also allowed us to participate on a national and international level in civic society and in public discourse generally. This freedom has, however, also brought some negative aspects. Examples include the intentional victim-shaming of individuals sometimes referred to as "revenge porn". Other negative developments include intimidating and threatening online messages directed at private persons and public figures. Digital technology has also facilitated a new type of voyeurism, sometimes referred to as "upskirting". In addition, there have also been many instances of online and digital harassment and stalking, which also mirror to some extent the pre-digital versions of these harmful behaviours. The Report contains recommendations to reform both the criminal law (which already addresses some, but not all, of these harmful communications), as well a new statutory national oversight system that would promote and support positive digital safety. Proposed criminal law reforms -- The Report recommends the enactment of 2 new criminal offences to deal with posting online of intimate images without consent. The first is to deal with the intentional victim-shaming behaviour of posting intimate images without consent, often done after a relationship has broken down (so-called "revenge porn"). The second new offence also deals with posting intimate photos or videos and is to deal with a new type of voyeurism, often called "upskirting" or "down-blousing". The Report also recommends reforms of the existing offence of harassment, to ensure that it includes online activity such as posting fake social media profiles; and that there should be a separate offence of stalking, which is really an aggravated form of harassment. The Report also recommends reform of the existing offence of sending threatening and intimidating messages, again to ensure that it fully captures the most serious types of online intimidation. A new statutory oversight system: a Digital Safety Commissioner to promote digital safety and oversee efficient take-down procedure The Report also recommends that there is a need to establish a statutory Digital Safety Commissioner, modelled on comparable offices in Australia and New Zealand. The Commissioner's general function would be to promote digital safety, including an important educational role to promote positive digital citizenship among children and young people, in conjunction with the Ombudsman for Children and all the education partners. The Report recommends that the Digital Safety Commissioner's role would also include publication of a statutory Code of Practice on Digital Safety. This would build on the current non-statutory take down procedures and standards already developed by the online and digital sector, including social media sites. The Code would set out nationally agreed standards on the details of an efficient take-down procedure. Under the proposed statutory system, individuals would initially apply directly to a social media site to have harmful material removed in accordance with agreed time-lines: this is similar to the statutory system in place in Australia. If a social media site did not comply with the standards in the Code of Practice, the individual could then appeal to the Digital Safety Commissioner, who could direct a social media site to comply with the standards in the Code. If a social media site did not comply with the Digital Safety Commissioner's direction, the Commissioner could apply to the Circuit Court for a court order requiring compliance. Other detailed recommendations -- Among the other detailed recommendations in the Report are these: in any prosecution for a harmful communications offence provided for in the Report, the privacy of the person in respect of whom the offence is alleged to have been committed should be protected (but the victim should also be able to waive his or her anonymity); no prosecution for the offences discussed in the Report should be brought against children under the age of 17 except by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions: this reflects the Commission's view that, in the case of children and young people, the criminal justice process should be seen as a last resort and only after other responses, such as education or suitable diversion programmes, have been applied; the intent-based offences in the Report should carry, on summary conviction, maximum penalties of a Class A fine (currently, a fine not exceeding L5,000) and/or up to 12 months imprisonment; and on conviction on indictment, an unlimited fine and/or up to 7 years imprisonment -- a court should have the power to issue a restraining order restricting a person from communicating and/or approaching the victim of harmful communications, even if there has not been a criminal prosecution (currently, a restraining order can only be issued if a prosecution has been brought); the criminal offences and the civil law oversight of the proposed Digital Safety Commissioner should apply not only where the harmful communications occur in Ireland but also, where this is feasible, in relation to activity occurring outside the State (this is called extra-territoriality). Details: Dublin: Author, 2016. 241p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed July 9, 2019 at: https://www.lawreform.ie/_fileupload/Reports/Full%20Colour%20Cover%20Report%20on%20Harmful%20Communications%20and%20Digital%20Safety.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Ireland Keywords: Computer Crime Shelf Number: 156853 |
Author: Barry, Daniel Richard Title: Recidivism in the Republic of Ireland: A National Prospective Cohort Study Summary: This thesis explores two-year incidence and trends of reconviction among a national cohort of prisoners released from prisons in the Republic of Ireland between 2007 and 2009. Findings from international research studies that explore predictors and protectors of recidivism among ex-prisoners were used to inform the methodology for the current study. Anonymised data were obtained on all prisoners released from prisons in the Republic of Ireland during the years 2007-2009 through the Central Statistics Office in Ireland. A number of static and dynamic predictors and protectors of recidivism were examined across personal factors, family factors, medical/social history, criminal history, reason for committal and post-release engagement. Reconviction for a first new offence in a Court of Criminal Law within two years following release was the primary outcome of interest. The overall population released from prison during the study period consisted of 13,156 offenders, comprising 11,975 (91.02%) males and 1,181 (8.98%) females. Violent crime accounted for 1,347 index offences, drug crime for 1,035 offences, sex crime for 255 offences and property crime accounted for over 2,878 of recorded index offences. A total of 5,041 (38.32%) ex-prisoners were re-convicted in a Court of Criminal Law within two years following release from prison. Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that younger age, index offence type (property crime), homelessness and race/ethnicity were independently associated with higher odds of first reconviction within two years (p<0.05). The study found no independent association between gender, educational level or employment/occupation and subsequent reconviction (p>0.05). Factors independently protective of re-conviction included increasing age and an index sex crime (p>0.05). The findings from this nationally representative cohort study are broadly in-keeping with international rates and predictors of recidivism. The current study provides robust empirical evidence relating to factors that are both protective and predictive of recidivism. At policy level, there is an increasing focus on designing rehabilitation programmes that are evidence based. These findings provide a sound basis for designing rehabilitation programmes focusing on target populations and key risk factors. Successful reintegration of ex-prisoners reduces the harmful effects of social exclusion and increases levels of trust and community participation, components of community-wide social capital that are central for keeping crime rates low and for the general welfare and safety of community. Details: Portsmouth, England: University of Portsmouth, 2017. 254p. Source: Internet Resource Doctorate Thesis: Accessed July 14, 2019 at: https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/portal/files/7492009/Daniel_Barry_UP639010_FINAL_DISSERTATION.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Ireland Keywords: Ex-Prisoners Shelf Number: 156799 |
Author: Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland Title: Northern Ireland Alternatives: A Follow-up Review of the Community Restorative Justice Schemes Operated by Northern Ireland Alternatives Summary: Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJI) conducted a preliminary inspection of Northern Ireland Alternatives (NIA) in 2007. At that time the inspection was assessing NIA's readiness for accreditation and its potential to meet the standards set in the Government's Protocol for community-based restorative justice (CBRJ). The report recommended that NIA was ready for accreditation subject to their agreement to a number of conditions, and the deliberations of the Government's Suitability Panel who conducted background vetting into those involved with NIA. The outcome was that all five schemes were accredited by February 2008. 1.2 CJI had made a number of recommendations at the time of the original inspection and progress against these is assessed in this review. In addition the Inspectorate has now developed criteria for inspection of CBRJ schemes and has applied the criteria in this review. Inspectors undertook a full examination of all files opened by NIA since the last inspection to ensure that where criminal offences were identified, they were being correctly referred through the Protocol to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) for Background CHAPTER 1: investigation and submission to the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland (PPS) for consideration of restorative caution. Inspectors also sought to determine the current standing of NIA with the criminal justice agencies and whether the necessary confidence was being maintained. Details: Belfast, Ireland: Northern Ireland Alternatives, 2010. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 15, 2019 at: http://www.alternativesrj.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Northern-Ireland-Alternatives-CJI-review-2010.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Ireland Keywords: Community-Based Services Shelf Number: 157007 |
Author: Deloitte MCS Limited Title: Identification of Selection Criteria to Prioritise Potential Areas for the Roll-Out of the Belfast Community Safety Alleygating Scheme and the Development of Evaluation Criteria Summary: The Community Safety Team is facilitating the development of proposals for future gating within the city, using the findings of the evaluation and experiences of the pilot scheme. To support this work Deloitte LLP has been engaged to identify selection criteria to allow the prioritisation of potential areas for the roll-out of the Belfast Community Safety Alleygating Scheme as well as supporting the development of ongoing evaluation criteria. As part of this process, Deloitte consulted with key stakeholders such as the Belfast Community Safety Partnership, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue, the Roads Service and colleagues internally within the Council, including Cleansing Services, responsible for cleaning the entries. Deloitte has used the findings of this research to develop a series of considerations/indicators which will allow the Community Safety Team to assess both the need for and the 'feasibility' of, alleygating in neighbourhoods across the city. These include: - Completion of streets adjacent to the pilot areas; - ASB and criminal damage; - Community support for and capacity to support an alleygating scheme;- Physical structure of alleyways. Deloitte has structured these factors into two levels of criteria, mandatory criteria; i.e. those that must be met before an area would be earmarked for alleygating and prioritisation criteria; i.e. those against which each street is assessed and weighted marks are awarded as a score. Deloitte has applied the prioritisation criteria to streets throughout the city (where there have been requests for alleygating) to develop an initial list of streets. The mandatory criteria would then be applied by the Community Safety Team as a second phase as this will require on-site surveys to assess for example whether it is physically possible to erect gates. For efficiency reasons, streets will be surveyed taking the initial list in descending order until resources are likely to be exhausted. Taking cognisance of the comments of Members, Deloitte has prioritised streets in each of the four city quadrants, North, South, East and West to ensure a cross-city approach. It is important to note that these lists of streets have not been surveyed for their physical suitability and this will form the next phase of the application and roll out of the scheme over 2009-11. The size of the scheme will depend on the finances available and the staff capacity. In order to take forward a significant alleygating scheme across the City over the next 2-3 years, it will be necessary to seek external financial assistance. Each gate is likely to cost in the region of 4,000 pounds installed, which in effect means it is likely to cost 500,000 pounds to erect gates in approximately 65 streets. Negotiations are already taking place with the Northern Ireland Office and the Belfast Regeneration Office. However, it must be appreciated that outside bodies providing funding are likely to stipulate some further conditions for spending their funds which could then affect the prioritisation of streets presented in the Deloitte report. Given the costs outlined above, it is unlikely that all streets that are on the current waiting list can be facilitated in the near future. Therefore the prioritisation of the streets against agreed selection criteria is critical. It is important that Members agree the broad process so that the Community Safety Team can take the various stages forward. Evaluating the impact of future alleygating schemes will be important to demonstrate how these have helped to achieve the overall objective of making Belfast safer as well assuring value for money. Deloitte has therefore refined the evaluation criteria originally used in the pilot and developed a new evaluation framework which is linked to the selection criteria and which includes performance targets which will be measured against neighbourhood baselines. Details: Belfast, Ireland: Deloitte MCS Limited, 2009. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 18, 2019 at: https://minutes3.belfastcity.gov.uk/documents/s18605/Appendix%201%20-%20Deloitte%20Report.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Ireland Keywords: Alleygating Shelf Number: 157016 |