VIOLENT CRIMINALS who have been jailed by the courts should not be eligible for an early release scheme aimed at easing prison overcrowding, a group representing the families of homicide victims has said.
AdVic has called on Minister for Justice Alan Shatter to exclude violent offenders from his mooted plans and has urged him to consult with the victims of crime before he presses ahead with the early release scheme.
AdVic vice-chairwoman Joan Dean expressed her concern that prison overcrowding would be tackled by using an early release mechanism for those serving long sentences.
“The current economic situation should not be allowed to influence Ireland’s justice system. It continues to be the case that the rights of the accused are placed above those of the victim.”
She said it would be very distressing for victims and their families if criminals were released early back into the community to begin living close to their victims or the family of a homicide victim.
“Where is the justice when it is the family of a victim of homicide that end up with the life sentence?
“AdVic proposes nothing more than fairness for offender, victims and their families alike. We would like the Minister to publicly guarantee that violent offenders will not be eligible for this scheme.”
The group called for a register of violent offenders in order that their whereabouts on release from prison after serving their sentences in full would be known.
AdVic made its comments following a report in The Irish Timesyesterday that revealed Mr Shatter had asked his senior officials to examine if inmates nearing the end of long sentences could be released early and undergo community service instead.