Monitoring Prision Conditions

| Prison Conditions | Categorisation of prisonres | Community ties | Support Services | Monitoring prison conditions | John's Story |

The public is largely unaware of what goes on behind the closed gates of our penal institutions. It is only when there is a suicide, riot or visit by an international human rights group that prison conditions become matters for debate.

Proper monitoring of prison conditions is an essential feature of any democracy. National minimum standards of detention - based on international models - should be drawn up and implemented. These standards should be monitored by Prison Visiting Committees. At present these committees have little credibility. They are appointed by the Minister for Justice and, by and large, demonstrate little concern about the treatment of prisoners, prison conditions or how establishments are run. They are seen as disinterested and uncritical. Their structure and functions should be reviewed to make them into effective watchdogs. If working properly they would be an important safeguard against ill-treatment.

Recommendations

1. 'Slopping out' should be abolished by the year 2000.
   
2. Limerick Women's prison should be shut down at once.
   
3. The role of Prison Visiting Committees should be reviewed.

— Welcome - About - Productions - Theatre and Social Change -
— Racism - Refugees and Asylum Seekers - Prisons -