Prisons

A new research project on familial imprisonment has been awarded funding from the Irish Research Council (IRC). Dr Fiona Donson and Dr Aisling Parkes of UCC School of Law are leading the project, which will be delivered in collaboration with the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT).

Families of prisoners will be able to pay small amounts of money to their relatives in the penal system at post office counters under a new system to be rolled out nationwide. The new service, developed through co-operation between the Irish Prison Service and An Post, is part of a wider drive to mo

Prison healthcare workers are set to receive a £1,300 pay boost in recognition of their "vital work". The annual "environmental allowance" will be paid into salaries by July 2020, subject to necessary business case approval.

Prisoner numbers in Ireland should be brought down faster through measures including presumption of bail, increased use of non-custodial sanctions and early releases in order to protect prisoners' rights, the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has said. The penal reform group made the remarks in respon

Virtual prison visits have been rolled out across Northern Ireland's prisons following the suspension of in-person visits during the coronavirus pandemic. The video-link facilities introduced at Maghaberry Prison, Magilligan Prison and Hydebank Wood allow for 20-minute "visits" between prisoners and

University of Limerick School of Law has announced the appointment of Patricia Gilheaney as an adjunct professor. Professor Gilheaney, who has a background in psychiatry and nursing, was appointed as Ireland's prisons inspector two years ago.

Up to 200 prisoners in Northern Ireland will be temporarily released before the end of their sentence under plans to tackle the spread of coronavirus. In a statement this morning, Justice Minister Naomi Long said the COVID-19 pandemic meant she had to "consider measures that only a few weeks ago wou

Ireland has been "ahead of the curve" on reducing prisoner numbers during the coronavirus pandemic but must go further, penal reform campaigners have warned. Speaking to Irish Legal News, Fíona Ní Chinnéide, executive director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT), welcomed the

Northern Ireland prisons have moved to a "reduced regime", with all prisoners required to remain in their accommodation block, in order to halt the spread of coronavirus. One prisoner and 163 prison staff in Northern Ireland are self-isolating but there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far, the

All visits to Northern Ireland prisons have been suspended with effect from today in order to slow the spread of coronavirus. Ronnie Armour, director general of the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS), said he "reluctantly" took the decision in consultation with Justice Minister Naomi Long.

The Royal Navy could be drafted in to help run prisons in England and Wales under contingency plans drawn up to deal with coronavirus. The unprecedented option will be available to prison bosses if too many prison officers contract COVID-19 and have to stay at home, The Times reports.

Over £500 million is set to be paid out to former police and prison officers who sustained injuries while on duty through schemes which require "substantial changes" to remain sustainable. A new report from the Northern Ireland Audit Office reveals that the injury on duty schemes for officers

Justice Minister Naomi Long has said she supports the proposed £108 million redevelopment of Magilligan Prison, but has offered no news on when capital funding for the project will become available.

Improved search technology and equipment should be deployed in Northern Ireland prisons to help prevent drug smuggling, the Prisoner Ombudsman has said. The recommendation is one of seven included in Dr Lesley Carroll's report into the death of 27-year-old Paul Johnston in Magilligan Prison in 2017.

Champion boxers Carl Frampton and Paddy Barnes visited Hydebank Wood College as part of a boxing skills initiative for young men and women in detention. The Ulster Boxing Council, the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) and the Northern Ireland Prison Service jointly hosted the six-week, non-co