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THE UN COMMITTEE against Torture has expressed “deep concern” at the level of overcrowding in the prison system in Ireland. UNCAT has today published its concluding observations on Ireland’s compliance with the UN Convention against Torture and has provided recommendations on what action the State should take in the coming years.
As well as recommending an inquiry into activities at the Magdalene Laundries, the report notes that while there are efforts to alleviate overcrowding in prisons, it is a serious problem. UNCAT has asked that it be notified of any decisions taken with regard to Thornton Hall prison project, as well as developing a programme of non-custodial sanctions such as community service.
UNCAT also says that the practice of ”slopping out” is inhuman and degrading. It recommends that all prisoners should be released from their cells to use toilet facilities. The Committee says that it is necessary to “establish and independent and effective complaint and investigation mechanism” for prisoners, something which is being welcomed by the Irish Penal Reform Trust, which says:
The high rate of inter-prisoner violence within the Irish system is highlighted by the Committee as a particular concern and the Committee has issued specific directions to the Government to address the contributing factors such as the availability of drugs, the existence of feuding gangs, lack of purposeful activities, lack of space and poor material conditions; including a call to investigate allegations of racism against Traveller prisoners
Other issues highlighted in the report include, but are not limited to:
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A lot of people probably won’t agree with me but I think prison should be a place so bad it would put the fear into people so they wouldn’t want to end up it.
such a place exists in America, Shawshank prison :)
You’re right Diego. I agree
i tend to agree, however at the same time the judicial system should be reviewed around sentencing, it is completely daft that people are given custodial sentences for relatively minor offenses and the non payment of fines, etc. there are far better ways for all concerned (the convicted, the legal system and the taxpayer) to deal with such issues.
those who commit crimes that warrant a custodial sentence should be placed into two categories (broadly speaking), the first around the open prison system for those crimes at the lower end of the spectrum and on the other end of the scale the system for those whom commit the most serious crimes (esp violent and sexual crimes) the conditions should be very very harsh and degrading, with little to no remittance, visits or comforts afforded.
Exactly
Agree, Conor.
You said it Diego.
ironic if you don’t pay your tv licence you go to jail were you can watch tv all day :)
Hehe
so they should have state of the art facilities?? how about tough tittes! where was their concern when they were commiting their crimes?? sick of the liberal brigade. prison is for criminals end of. 3 meals a day & an hour exercise. maybe they will think twice before commiting crimes. also what’s all this about traveller discriminated against? I thought travellers did NOT commit any crimes !!
Spot on Ando!
Spot on Gis!
Spot on John!
The UN-the biggest quango in the world.
Were over 100 billion in dept and the UN is going to get on our case about overcrowding in prisions! The country is crippled from debt.. Bar less we release half the prision population i dont see a solution to this issue
If they send us the money, instead of telling us what we already know, we cand solve the problems.
The UN would perhaps gain itself a few gold stars if ut were to start with the really bad and stinky prisons in places such as India ,Pakistan,Saudi Arabia and most South American places. We seem to be a little busy right now trying to keep ourselves out of jail for major crimes such as not having the money to pay for water meters and septic tank inspections not to mention TV licenses and maybe they could come back later? Seeing that places like Zimbabwe and Syria have seats on the UN makes me want to throw up.
The lovely ladies in the womens prison are living in better conditions than I am.
I have a few opinions on this that many may or may not agree with. Firstly overcrowed prisons meana revolving door system which can mean some people who should be in prison get released back on the streets. Secondly some people are put into
I have a few opinions on this that many may or may not agree with. Firstly overcrowed prisons meana revolving door system which can mean some people who should be in prison get released back on the streets. Secondly a sizeable amount of people are put into prison for the ‘shocking’ crimes of not paying fines, defaulting on loans etc.
I don’t believe that prisonshould be a holiday but slopping out etc is an absolute disgrace, no mater what someone has done, general society is supposed to have the moral high ground and such conditions in our prisons should not be tolerated.
Astablish? See sub headline
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