Prisons

Dozens of new prison officers are being recruited in Northern Ireland in response to a "very steep rise" in prisoner numbers. Northern Ireland's prison population has increased by over 500 prisoners since July 2021 and now stands at 1,920.

The Irish Prison Service has issued an urgent nationwide drug alert over lethal nitazene. Analysis by the HSE National Drug Treatment Centre Laboratory has confirmed the presence of a "nitazene-type substance" associated with overdoses in Irish prisons, one of which is fatal.

Psychologists at Trinity College Dublin have launched a new research project exploring the experience of growing up with an imprisoned father. The study, being undertaken by a small team of researchers in the School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, will explore the experience of male children

The High Court has upheld a decision of the minister for social protection concerning the suspension of disability allowance of a former prisoner, and has refused to strike down s.210(1) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 as unconstitutional. Delivering judgment for the High Court, Ms Just

The government of Honduras is to build a “mega-prison” to deal with gang violence in a move similar to its neighbour El Salvador. President Xiomara Castro announced the new project along with other emergency measures such as giving the military a greater role in tackling organised crime

Ireland's prison population is growing faster than in any other country in western Europe, according to new Council of Europe figures. Irish prisons were virtually full as of 31 January 2023, with 99.4 prisoners for every 100 places available, according to the 2023 penal statistics published today.

Foreign nationals — including from other EU countries — appear to be less likely to be granted bail by Irish judges in contradiction to EU guidance on the matter, according to new research. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) today published a research report into the use of pre

Men incarcerated in Irish prisons face significant barriers to accessing mental health care, according to new research published by Mental Health Reform. The Mental Health Services & Supports in Prisons: Service Mapping and Reflections from Lived Experiences report, published yesterday, highligh

The High Court has directed a modular trial in a “slopping out” case which is prima facie out of time, the events complained of having occurred 16 years prior to the institution of proceedings. Delivering judgment for the High Court, Mr Justice Garrett Simons determined that: “It w

Politicians and legal academics have signed an open letter opposing government plans to expand prisons and calling for evidence-based alternatives. Senator Lynn Ruane, Labour leader Ivana Bacik and the Social Democrats' Garry Gannon are among signatories to the letter, which was featured in The Iris

Penal reform campaigners have urged the new Taoiseach to tackle "the root causes of offending" instead of focusing on "harsher penalties and prison expansion". In a letter to Simon Harris, the head of the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) said it has concerns about current "political rhetoric... and t

More than €75 million is to be invested in the Irish Prison Service and An Garda Síochána as part of a €93 million capital funding package announced today. The additional funding brings the total capital allocation available for the justice sector in 2024-2026 to €930 mi

The Northern Ireland Prison Service has launched a new online visit booking system which has been hailed as the first of its kind in the UK. In-person and virtual visits to any prison in Northern Ireland can now be booked via the nidirect.gov.uk website.

Penal reform campaigners have called for urgent action after a watchdog found that mental healthcare needs are not being fully or satisfactorily met in any of the seven prisons it inspected. A damning thematic inspection report published today by the Office of the Inspector of Prisons describes a nu

Northern Ireland's justice minister, Naomi Long, has welcomed the findings of two review reports on Maghaberry and Magilligan Prisons. The two independent review reports are intended to provide assurance or highlight issues which need addressed in advance of a full inspection.