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Ireland's political and cultural magazine
VILLAGEAugust/September
W
OMEN are a tiny minority in prisons and
a particularly marginalised and vulner-
able group. On average, only about -%
of those in prison are women. While prison num-
bers in Ireland generally have stabilised and even
reduced in recent years, there have been increas-
ing numbers of women committed to prison. There
was an increase of % in over . Between
and , there was a dramatic % increase
in the number of women committed to prison.
A large number of women are committed for
short-term sentences arising out of non-violent
offences. However, even short periods of imprison-
ment have a severe impact on these women and on
their children and families. The Irish Penal Reform
Trust (IPRT) has pointed out the notable recent
increase in female committals and the need for urgent
action, given persistent overcrowding in Ireland’s two
women prisons.
There is no open or semi-open prison for women in
Ireland. All those imprisoned, even for minor offences
or non-payment of fines, are sent to either the Dóchas
Centre in Dublin or Limerick Prison. While Dóchas is a
relatively new prison, designed to facilitate rehabili-
tation, the conditions in Limerick are particularly
poor, and in serious need of modernisation. It
comprises part of the capital plan in the Irish Prison
Service’s Three Year Strategic Plan -.
Overcrowded conditions prevent effective rehabili-
tation, even in the Dóchas Centre. On one recent date,
there were women in the Dóchas Centre, which
has a capacity of . In Limerick prison, where
conditions are outdated and completely inadequate,
there were women detained in a space designed for
.
Because women only make up a small minority of
the prison population, conditions in women’s prisons
tend to be overlooked in the formation and applica-
tion of penal policy. That is why a document launched
jointly by the Probation Service and the Irish Prison
Service in March was so welcome. Their
Strategy for -, entitled ‘An Effective Response
to Women who Offend’ sets out how the two agencies
will work together with other statutory, community
and voluntary sector partners to reduce offending
and imprisonment rates among women.
The Strategy recognises that most women who
offend pose a low risk to society but, generally, have a
high level of need. Both services have now committed
to developing a gender-informed approach to working
with women offenders in custody and in the commu-
nity. This approach is to be informed by evidence and
best practice. The services will develop a range of
options to provide an effective alternative to custody
and improved outcomes, for women; and enhanced
integration for women offenders in the community.
The launch of this Strategy was welcomed by the
IPRT. It is notable that many of the actions outlined in
the Strategy reflect recommen-
dations made in the IPRT’s own
December Position
Paper, ‘Women in the Criminal
Justice System – Towards a
non-custodial approach’.
The IPRT Position Paper, and
the new Strategy recognise
that a number of key steps can
be taken to improve conditions
for women in prison. The
imprisonment of women must
only be used as a last resort,
when all other alternatives are
deemed unsuitable. A review
should be conducted of
sentencing practices that
currently result in many
women receiving short custodial sentences for
non-violent crimes. There should be greater use of
alternatives to custody. An open prison should be
provided for women. Increased support services in
the community are needed to address the complex
needs of many women offenders (including mental
health issues and alcohol or drug addictions), and
enable them to maintain links with their children and
families.
It is regrettable that, at a time when a welcome
reduction is evident in the numbers of people sent to
prison in Ireland each year, we are seeing increasing
numbers of women sentenced to custody. However,
the commitments made in the new Strategy, once
implemented, will contribute to a more progressive
penal policy, and should greatly enhance the pros-
pects of rehabilitation and re-integration for women
oenders within the criminal justice system. •
Non-custodial
solutions
for low-risk
offenders are
generally better
for all
Ivana Bacik (Labour) is deputy leader
of the Seanad and Reid Professor of
Law at Trinity College, Dublin.
While Dóchas
is a relatively
new prison,
designed
to facilitate
rehabilitation,
the conditions
in Limerick are
particularly
poor
“
IVANA BACIK
Imprison fewer women
