EXPERT SUGGESTS OPTIONS TO PRISON

IRISH prisons would be less over crowded if the judiciary used alternatives
to imprisonment such as community service, according to Dr T K Whitaker.

In 1985, Dr Whitaker completed a landmark inquiry into the Irish penal
system and today he launches a review of the prison service commissioned by
the Irish Penal Reform Trust.

"As in 1985, a high proportion, roughly half, of committals to prison are
for periods of six months or less.

"People are still being jailed for non payment of fines and for minor
offences against person or property like stealing a coat. There would be
less overcrowding, and less need for additional - and very expensive -
prison places, if more use were made of alternatives to imprisonment, such
as community service. Attachment of income and assets could be extended as
a sanction," Dr Whitaker said.

He added that the Ireland of today is a far cry from the Ireland he
presented his report on the official inquiry into the penal system in 1985.
Then the menace of drugs was beginning to spread and AIDS had made its
sinister appearance.

"Fifteen years later, to a degree beyond the most optimistic imaginings,
the economic and social environment has improved. "Employment has greatly
increased, outward has been replaced by inward migration, the State's
finances are handsomely in surplus, living standards have risen
substantially in real terms."

Dr Whitaker said these changes would be expected to influence the nature
and extent of crime and that motivation would shift more towards greed
rather than need, criminal gangs would emerge to dominate the lucrative
drug trade or engage in armed robbery.

He added that with big money involved, the criminal scene would become more
violent and ruthless. In this environment of greater extremes he believes
we need a clearer understanding of the prevailing social and other causes
of crime and how to deal most effectively with criminal gangs.

"We need expert guidance on the most effective ways of diverting the young
from crime, of countering drug abuse, and where there is some hope of
reform, of treating offenders with drug problems otherwise than by
imprisonment.

"We need to know how to improve health, development and other services for
those in prison and prepare them for better for subsequent integration into
normal society."

Dr Whitaker said there have been laudable improvements in the Irish penal
system in recent years and cites the construction of the new women's prison
and the remand centre which is being prepared for occupation.

He also welcomed the new Prisons Board which will shortly take full
responsibility for the running of Irish prisons.

Dr Whitaker said it is timely the Irish Penal Reform Trust have
commissioned a new survey aimed at showing how the defects in our penal
system could be remedied to reflect best practice elsewhere.