News (Media Awareness Project) - Ireland: New Prison Complex Unlikely To Remain Drug Free |
| Title: | Ireland: New Prison Complex Unlikely To Remain Drug Free |
| Published On: | 1999-09-29 |
| Source: | Examiner, The (Ireland) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-05 19:06:34 |
NEW PRISON COMPLEX UNLIKELY TO REMAIN DRUG FREE
A NEW state of the art womens prison complex is unlikely to remain drug
free, the head of the prison service conceded yesterday.
The complex in Mountjoy Prison, which opened yesterday, was hailed as a
major step towards ending 150 years of poor prison conditions for women by
the director general of the prison service, Sean Aylward.
However, keeping the unit free of drugs will be a huge difficulty, he added.
The objective is to keep the unit drug free, but keeping it completely drug
free would mean introducing levels of searching on women prisoners which are
not acceptable in civil society, Mr Aylward said.
The complex, opened by Minister for Justice John ODonoghue, holds up to 80
women prisoners and comprises eight residential units in a village style
setting without conventional prison perimeter walls.
The complex, built on the site of a 19th century womens penitentiary, was
welcomed by the Minister who described it as the most important and
significant landmark in the long and chequered history of womens prisons at
the location.
On the advice of a steering committee the new prison will introduce various
facilities to prepare offenders for re entry into their own communities.
These include a pre release residence where prisoners will be allowed to
participate in training courses outside the prison and the provision of
special bedrooms to accommodate mothers and their young babies.
Remand and convicted prisoners will be housed in a separate residential
unit, as will drug addicts.
However IMPACT yesterday condemned the treatment facilities for prison drug
addicts as being completely inadequate.
There are huge deficiencies in the rehabilitation services with just one
probation or welfare officer for up to 80 offenders. Given that a 1996
survey found that 70% of female offenders are drug addicts, there is no way
they can receive sustained support and treatment services, said Patrick
ODea, spokesman for the probation and welfare officers branch of IMPACT.
The Irish Penal Reform Trust welcomed the opening of the prison, but added
that creating more prison spaces would not provide a solution to tackling
crime.
A NEW state of the art womens prison complex is unlikely to remain drug
free, the head of the prison service conceded yesterday.
The complex in Mountjoy Prison, which opened yesterday, was hailed as a
major step towards ending 150 years of poor prison conditions for women by
the director general of the prison service, Sean Aylward.
However, keeping the unit free of drugs will be a huge difficulty, he added.
The objective is to keep the unit drug free, but keeping it completely drug
free would mean introducing levels of searching on women prisoners which are
not acceptable in civil society, Mr Aylward said.
The complex, opened by Minister for Justice John ODonoghue, holds up to 80
women prisoners and comprises eight residential units in a village style
setting without conventional prison perimeter walls.
The complex, built on the site of a 19th century womens penitentiary, was
welcomed by the Minister who described it as the most important and
significant landmark in the long and chequered history of womens prisons at
the location.
On the advice of a steering committee the new prison will introduce various
facilities to prepare offenders for re entry into their own communities.
These include a pre release residence where prisoners will be allowed to
participate in training courses outside the prison and the provision of
special bedrooms to accommodate mothers and their young babies.
Remand and convicted prisoners will be housed in a separate residential
unit, as will drug addicts.
However IMPACT yesterday condemned the treatment facilities for prison drug
addicts as being completely inadequate.
There are huge deficiencies in the rehabilitation services with just one
probation or welfare officer for up to 80 offenders. Given that a 1996
survey found that 70% of female offenders are drug addicts, there is no way
they can receive sustained support and treatment services, said Patrick
ODea, spokesman for the probation and welfare officers branch of IMPACT.
The Irish Penal Reform Trust welcomed the opening of the prison, but added
that creating more prison spaces would not provide a solution to tackling
crime.
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