The time must reflect the crime

Plans to boost the number of prison spaces in Ireland in a bid to tackle overcrowding are welcome.

The ‘revolving door’ issue at certain prisons has been well highlighted in recent weeks and months in the local district court.

Judges are understandably frustrated. They are jailing criminals only for them to be given temporary release because there is simply nowhere to put them.

In one case, a man who was sentenced to five months, served just one day before he was back on the streets again. In another case, a serial shoplifter and addict was given temporary release only to go out and commit another offence days later.

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has admitted that prisons in Ireland are currently operating at 115% capacity, with an 11% rise in the prison population in 12 months. There was a new record set in mid-April when 5,394 individuals were incarcerated in the State.

To put this into context, the prison service considers that the population should not go above 95% of the total capacity.

The current situation is not good enough. There are reports of prisoners sleeping on mattresses on floors and prison officers struggling to manage the population. Prison overcrowding leads to an increased risk of violence for inmates, threatens the health and safety of prison officers, and ultimately risks public safety.

As part of plans to boost capacity, the Government hopes to speed up the delivery of 960 prison spaces before 2030.

Budget 2025 provided funding of €525M for the prison system – up €79M or 18% on 2024.

But many towns do not want prisons and the government could face opposition when it comes to planning for some, not to mention delays in securing permission.

The Minister has also received Government approval to expand alternatives to custodial sentences, including the use of Community Service Orders. He also plans to introduce an electronic tagging pilot programme.

These are all welcome measures and all part of the solution. But, ultimately, it makes a mockery of our judicial system if someone is sentenced to jail time and only serves a small portion of that. Where is the deterrent?

Of course, the most serious criminals (rapists and murderers) will never get temporary release under these circumstances. But the time served must be proportionate to the crime. That basic principle must hold in order for our judicial system to stand up. If that falls, then we are in a very dangerous place.