JOINT PRISON & PROBATION SERVICES PLAN WILL ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY & REDUCE PRISONERS RE-OFFENDING - KENNY

Posted on May 8, 2013 5:12 PM   |   Permanent Link   

Dublin Bay North Labour TD and member of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Seán Kenny, has welcomed the publication of the Joint Irish Prison Service & Probation Service Strategic Plan 2013 - 2015. This plan sets out objectives, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, to develop a multi-agency approach to offender management and rehabilitation from pre-imprisonment to post imprisonment in order to reduce re-offending and to improve prison outcomes.

"The purpose of the Strategic Plan is to protect public safety by ensuring better co-ordination between the Prison Service and the Probation Service in implementing policies to reduce reoffending. Active sentence management and the provision of prisoner resettlement programmes are designed to help prisoners reduce their risk of reoffending and make a positive contribution to their communities. The Joint Strategy published today sets out how the two organisations will continue to develop and co-ordinate their activities, to further improve outcomes, and to help create a safer and fairer Ireland.

"The strategy contains seven strategic actions which will be delivered during the lifetime of the plan, including the development of a continuum of sentence management, the roll out of community return as well as support for short term sentenced prisoners, the introduction of specific reintegration initiatives in Cork and Limerick, the development of a specific strategy for female offenders, the development of a specific strategy to address the needs of younger offenders, and enhanced co-operation between both agencies to improve the collation and publication of data and statistical information.

"Among the strategic actions covered in the plan is the continued roll out of the community return programme which has proven to be a great success among participants with many commenting on the supports and structure that it gives them on their release, and how it has assisted in their transition back into the community. In addition, the Strategy will see increased co-operation with community and non-statutory agencies with the development of specific reintegration initiatives in Cork and Limerick, and the development of specific strategies to deal with female and young offenders."