NEW WOMEN'S PRISON ESCAPES THE OLD MOULD

A NEW women's prison, opened yesterday by Justice Minister John O'Donoghue,
resembles a block of red-bricked apartment from the street.

Gone is the traditional prison perimeter wall while the layout has been
designed by the Office of Public Works to look like an urban residential
complex without ignoring the necessary security measures.

Mr O'Donoghue yesterday removed his ``zero tolerance'' hat to hail the new
development as one of the most modern prisons in the world that would help
to prepare female offenders to be integrated back into the community.

The new pounds 13.5m jail built as part of the Mountjoy Jail complex is in
stark contrast to the Victorian buildings alongside.

The rest of Mountjoy is now targetted for a major wing-by-wing
refurbishment programme as soon as the remand prisoners have been moved
fully to the new jail at Cloverhill, Clondalkin, and other inmates
transferred to the Midlands prison when it opens in Portlaoise early next year.

A steering committee, set up five years ago to advise on design and
facilities, included representatives from the Council for the Status of
Women, the Employment Equality Agency and the Rape Crisis Centre while
submissions from local resident groups were also taken into account.

The radical design ideas were embraced by Mr O'Donoghue when he took up the
Justice post and, together with the planned expansion of the community
service concept, it is seen as an adjunct to the crackdown on serious
criminals.

The new women's prison will hold 80 inmates. These are mainly repeat
offenders, and currently include three serving life sentences, a dozen drug
offenders and some prisoners with psychiatric problems.

In contrast to normal cellblock accommodation, the women's jail is
comprised of small self-contained houses, each of which will hold ten
offenders.

There are facilities for recreation and making light refreshments contained
in each unit.

An educational programme offering courses ranging from languages to beauty
skills is also being incorporated in the new prison while there is a strong
emphasis on child care and play areas to facilitate family visits.

Studies show that the vast majority of female offenders in custody come
from poor social backgrounds, mainly in inner city areas.

The prison's location is planned to make it easier for offenders to stay in
contact with their families through regular visits while a number of
special bedrooms have been designed to accommodate mothers with young babies.

One unit is also being set aside as a half-way house or pre-release section
for offenders who are nearing the end of their sentence.

As part of their preparation for release they will be allowed to take part
in courses daily outside the prison.

The Probation and Welfare Officers branch of the Impact trade union last
night welcomed the new jail but said more of its members should be
allocated to staff the prison.

The Minister promised that the present allocation would be increased.

The Irish Penal Reform Trust said it was difficult to understand why, at a
time of steeply declining crime rates, the Government was forging ahead
with the biggest prison building programme in the history of the State.