“…it’s like stepping on a land-mine” Post-release integration of prisoners in Ireland Agnieszka Martynowicz Irish Penal Reform Trust July 2010

METHODOLOGY review of literature; legislation; policy and practice interviews with statutory agencies interviews with voluntary sector providers focus groups with former prisoners practice based - looking at service provision not at theory of desistance/reintegration/integration

BACKGROUND historically under-developed focus on prisons criminal justice and social policies separated from prison policy rapidly increasing prison population and number of committals penal expansionism (new prison places) BUT no additional resources to meet increasing needs overcrowding unsafe prisons

BACKGROUND Some prisons with 80% of prisoners addicted to drugs/alcohol High prevalence of mental health difficulties (27% of sentenced men and 60% of sentenced women with mental illness) and dual diagnosis Homelessness Up to 25% ‘on protection’ every day 80% on sentences less than 12 months (over 60% under 6 months) 50% re-committal rate within 4 years

5 FINDINGS Some progressive ‘pilot’ and more permanent initiatives: Diversion project in Cloverhill Prison (Dublin) Community organisations providing homeless assistance on remand/statutory organisations on sentence Increased provision of drug counselling in prisons Development of new initiatives (mentoring) and continuing success of existing programmes (The GATE/Linkage) Integrated Sentence Management appears to be working well where introduced Funding provided by the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service increasing the capacity of community-based projects Legislative and practical initiatives aiming to address the increase in prison population: fines; community service orders.

6 FINDINGS A system which struggles to engage with the vast majority of prisoners ‘Post-code lottery’ in relation to what is available in the prisons and outside Little or no information provided to prisoners and/or their families regarding services available in custody or upon release Focus of resources on long-term and ‘high risk’ prisoners (ISM; Probation managing ‘risk’) Resources not adequate to needs Funding concerns re: longer term sustainability

FINDINGS Use of Temporary Release as a safety valve for overcrowded prisons Short notice of release and releases at weekends Limited linking with community support before release ‘communication chaos’ leading to vital support being lost or not provided Effects: most recently two cases of prisoners with mental health difficulties granted TR with no support reported in the press - one in Cork Prison and one in the Dóchas Centre in DublinCork Prison Dóchas Centre Lack of a statutory duty to co-operate can hinder any efforts made before release (homelessness an example) Lack of more general awareness regarding the reality of prison life

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