A damning new report on the state of the Irish prison system has
lambasted the country’s prisons for their “inhumane conditions”
describing them as “an insult to the decency of any human being and an
affront to the basic tenets of decency.”
One of the primary concerns outlined in the prison chaplains’ annual report on the state of prison care is the level of overcrowding in most prisons. The chaplains note that the average number of prisoners in jail has risen from 3,191 in 2006 to 5,456 in 2010.
Collating information from 27 of the country’s prison chaplains who are working in 14 prisons, the report highlights that Mountjoy Prison, which was built for 489 prisoners and which according to the Inspector of Prisons, cannot safely accommodate more than 540, held 759 inmates one night last July.
One of the primary concerns outlined in the prison chaplains’ annual report on the state of prison care is the level of overcrowding in most prisons. The chaplains note that the average number of prisoners in jail has risen from 3,191 in 2006 to 5,456 in 2010.
Collating information from 27 of the country’s prison chaplains who are working in 14 prisons, the report highlights that Mountjoy Prison, which was built for 489 prisoners and which according to the Inspector of Prisons, cannot safely accommodate more than 540, held 759 inmates one night last July.
That
meant 129 prisoners did not have a bed to sleep in and some did not even
have a mattress to sleep on.
Arbour Hill chaplain, Fr Ciaran Enright, told CiNews that many of the prisons are dealing with “chronic over-crowding.”
He blamed this for increasing the tension and violence within prisons and said in some instances it was responsible for bringing about “greater dependency on drug use.”
The report states, “Most of our prisons are drug-filled and have been for the past decade.”
Arbour Hill chaplain, Fr Ciaran Enright, told CiNews that many of the prisons are dealing with “chronic over-crowding.”
He blamed this for increasing the tension and violence within prisons and said in some instances it was responsible for bringing about “greater dependency on drug use.”
The report states, “Most of our prisons are drug-filled and have been for the past decade.”
In 2009, 27,227 random drug tests were carried out in Irish prisons
of which 7,309 tested positive for heroin (27%), 6,110 tested positive
for cannabis (22%), 675 tested positive for cocaine, with some prisoners
testing positive for more than one drug.
Overall, 33% of prisoners were positive for heroin, cocaine or cannabis. In some jails, more than 50% of those tested were positive for heroin.
The report states that the other major problem in our prisons, apart from drugs, is prison violence. “Many prisoners are under threat from others, who may be inside or outside prison.”
“Many of the young men in St Patrick’s Institution are fearful because of gang-related disputes outside that spill into the prison, or drug-related arguments that are happening within the prison. Some then end up going on lockup for their own safety and protection,” Fr Enright explained.
He said the chaplains were highlighting that “the detention of young people in St Patrick’s who are under 18 is in direct contravention of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits the imprisonment or detention of children.”
One in four of the young prisoners in St Patrick’s is ‘on protection’ and is therefore locked up for 23 hours a day with nothing to do.
The report recommends that the State explore non-custodial options for prisoners who have committed less serious offences.
Overall, 33% of prisoners were positive for heroin, cocaine or cannabis. In some jails, more than 50% of those tested were positive for heroin.
The report states that the other major problem in our prisons, apart from drugs, is prison violence. “Many prisoners are under threat from others, who may be inside or outside prison.”
“Many of the young men in St Patrick’s Institution are fearful because of gang-related disputes outside that spill into the prison, or drug-related arguments that are happening within the prison. Some then end up going on lockup for their own safety and protection,” Fr Enright explained.
He said the chaplains were highlighting that “the detention of young people in St Patrick’s who are under 18 is in direct contravention of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits the imprisonment or detention of children.”
One in four of the young prisoners in St Patrick’s is ‘on protection’ and is therefore locked up for 23 hours a day with nothing to do.
The report recommends that the State explore non-custodial options for prisoners who have committed less serious offences.
SIC: CIN/IE
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