MOUNTJOY TRAINING UNIT IS CRITICISED

The training unit in Mountjoy Jail has been reduced to a holding centre for
prisoners trying to remain drug-free, according to a new report.

The European Social Fund (ESF) evaluation unit report says the training
centre has not been reviewed since it was set up 24 years ago. It adds that
the unit, which receives funds from the ESF, does not provide adequate training.

The report is based on interviews with 70 prisoners, prison staff and
officials at the Department of Justice. The fund has allocated more than
IEP750,000 for 1998 and 1999 to improve prison training in the unit,
according to the ESF. This money is also earmarked for creating "links to
supports and job placement in the community".

The report recommends the introduction of vocational guidance, a review of
training, pre-vocational and non-skills training, additional staff for the
unit, therapy for recovering addicts, staff training and the development of
training for women prisoners.

The training unit, which is a separate part of Mountjoy, was designated
drug-free in 1996, catering for those who complete an eight-week detox
programme in the main prison.

Of the 76 people who came to the unit through the prison detox programme,
almost half were returned to Mountjoy after an average of eight weeks.
Thirty-four per cent of those returned had failed a urine analysis, most
testing positive for heroin. The remainder were returned for "discipline
reasons", for trial on further charges.

There was little preparation for release, the report said. "There is no
vocational guidance provision and a lack of linkage to mainstream placement
services, training agencies or community-based activity."

The unit had the "conflicting objectives of drug rehabilitation and
vocational training", it added, with no additional resources allocated to
cater for the needs of recovering addicts.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett