ANY DECISION to use further non-custodial sentences to deal with criminal justice matters must be supported by the wider public, the Inspector of Prisons, Judge Michael Reilly, has said.
Judge Reilly said use of problem-solving justice, such as community courts, should be considered, as well as non-custodial sentences for those convicted of low-level crime.
Such moves could reduce prison numbers “quite considerably”.
On May 21st the prison population stood at 4,276, 34 per cent (1,097 people) more than when he took up his post in January 2008.
Judge Reilly said people such as judges, lawyers and others working in the system should be involved in any changes, but that “these are not the only ones”.
“One thing I will say . . . is that if additional sanctions of a non-custodial nature are to be contemplated, it is essential that the public at large are on board.”
He also said he was “strongly of the view” that the idea of community courts should be revisited.
Judge Reilly was speaking at the Department of Justice White Paper on crime consultation seminar in Dublin Castle yesterday.
The paper examines the role of sanctions as part of an overall response to crime, whether or not the existing approach to sanctions and sentencing is working to prevent and reduce crime, and how policy in the area should be developed.
Judge Reilly said criminal justice legislation was robust, that criticism of the current system was valid and that many felt there was “little consistence” in sentencing.
