1980s Prison System
1980s
During the 1980s concerns still surrounded ‘subversive’ prisoners and prisoner numbers continued to rise. In 1983 the crime rate reached its peak of 102,287 for indictable offences. Drug use within prisons became prevalent and the presence of prisoners who had contracted HIV caused an environment of increased anxiety and fear. Deaths in custody increased during the 1980s with 4 deaths in 4 months occurring in Mountjoy in 1986. The system was still considered to be in crisis.
The Government planned an entirely new prison at Wheatfield to combat these problems. Due to financial considerations the opening of this prison was delayed. Policy makers seemed to accept that the problems the prison system faced would continue and therefore any …show more content…
This idea was heavily relied upon as the decade progressed. The majority of prisoners who were temporarily released were unsupervised and very little planning or notice was done. The ‘home leave’ system was also introduced in 1983 whereby prisoners who were convicted of minor offences avoided custodial sentences if they signed on periodically at a local Garda station. This was considered as an alternative to the unsupervised temporary release system.
Another issue within the prison system was the increase in drug use within prisons. Provision was established for prisoners who were addicted to drugs to be released to a residential centre for treatment in the Coolmine Centre. However, in 1983 there was a three year waiting list. Little was known about AIDS during the 1980s and as such little was done about it apart from segregating prisoners who were HIV positive.
There was one significant policy move that is still evident today. A statutory instrument removing the provision in the 1947 Prison rules requiring prisoners to be kept in single cells was signed by the Minister in 1983, overriding the Prison Rules 1947. Overcrowding was now legal with the stroke of a pen. This decision has never been reversed and is continuously used as a response to overcrowding.
The Whitaker …show more content…
Community Service Orders were proposed as they believed that ‘prison is probably the least suitable environment for the proper reintegration of the offender into society. It was also recommended to set up supervised hostels, day centres and employment schemes for offenders. A ‘treatment of offenders’ board was recommended for rehabilitation. Again, this was largely ignored by policy makers.
Throughout the 1980s, policy makers maintained their commitment to rehabilitation and did not wish to display harsh attitudes towards prisoners, although little was done to put the idea of rehabilitation into practice. No commitments were made to deal with the poor conditions or overcrowding in the prison system. ‘Make do’ policy with no long term objectives continued. Policy was reactive, particularly in terms of pressure on space and expansion within the very restrictive financial circumstances. All other issues were ignored or covered up by their preoccupation of the space
During the 1980s concerns still surrounded ‘subversive’ prisoners and prisoner numbers continued to rise. In 1983 the crime rate reached its peak of 102,287 for indictable offences. Drug use within prisons became prevalent and the presence of prisoners who had contracted HIV caused an environment of increased anxiety and fear. Deaths in custody increased during the 1980s with 4 deaths in 4 months occurring in Mountjoy in 1986. The system was still considered to be in crisis.
The Government planned an entirely new prison at Wheatfield to combat these problems. Due to financial considerations the opening of this prison was delayed. Policy makers seemed to accept that the problems the prison system faced would continue and therefore any …show more content…
This idea was heavily relied upon as the decade progressed. The majority of prisoners who were temporarily released were unsupervised and very little planning or notice was done. The ‘home leave’ system was also introduced in 1983 whereby prisoners who were convicted of minor offences avoided custodial sentences if they signed on periodically at a local Garda station. This was considered as an alternative to the unsupervised temporary release system.
Another issue within the prison system was the increase in drug use within prisons. Provision was established for prisoners who were addicted to drugs to be released to a residential centre for treatment in the Coolmine Centre. However, in 1983 there was a three year waiting list. Little was known about AIDS during the 1980s and as such little was done about it apart from segregating prisoners who were HIV positive.
There was one significant policy move that is still evident today. A statutory instrument removing the provision in the 1947 Prison rules requiring prisoners to be kept in single cells was signed by the Minister in 1983, overriding the Prison Rules 1947. Overcrowding was now legal with the stroke of a pen. This decision has never been reversed and is continuously used as a response to overcrowding.
The Whitaker …show more content…
Community Service Orders were proposed as they believed that ‘prison is probably the least suitable environment for the proper reintegration of the offender into society. It was also recommended to set up supervised hostels, day centres and employment schemes for offenders. A ‘treatment of offenders’ board was recommended for rehabilitation. Again, this was largely ignored by policy makers.
Throughout the 1980s, policy makers maintained their commitment to rehabilitation and did not wish to display harsh attitudes towards prisoners, although little was done to put the idea of rehabilitation into practice. No commitments were made to deal with the poor conditions or overcrowding in the prison system. ‘Make do’ policy with no long term objectives continued. Policy was reactive, particularly in terms of pressure on space and expansion within the very restrictive financial circumstances. All other issues were ignored or covered up by their preoccupation of the space