A large underclass exists in our prisons, many of whom committed only minor offences, writes Conor Lally
A study of people in prison and those before the courts reveals one in four jail inmates were homeless on committal, and 54 per cent of the State's 3,200 inmates were homeless at some point in their lives.
A significant portion of the prison population has a serious drugs problem. Cocaine and heroin are being used by inmates almost as frequently as cannabis. A large portion of those in jail also have a history of mental illness.
Perhaps most worryingly, the report indicates that existing interventions - including imprisonment - are failing to tackle recidivism.
Most homeless inmates surveyed had been arrested more than 20 times in the five years before being imprisoned and had spent a total of several years in prison.
And 90 per cent of a sample group of youth inmates reoffended within 18 months of release.
The authors of the report - A Study of the Number, Profile and Progression Routes of Homeless Persons Before the Courts and in Custody (2005) - "strongly recommend" that non-custodial sentences be used for petty criminals and that imprisonment be used only as a last resort.
Many of those surveyed were sent to prison for offences linked to their homelessness. These included begging, failure to obey a garda directive and failure to appear in court.
The Government's new Anti Social Behaviour Orders, or Asbos, may exacerbate this situation.
The key findings in this latest report on the profile of Irish prisoners will come as no surprise to many experts in, and observers of, the criminal justice system.
Its authors make a series of recommendations which are described as "challenging" by the acting head of the Probation and Welfare Service, John Kilcommins, in the report's preface.
The recommendations are made at a time when Ireland's criminal justice system is at something of a crossroads.
The long-running dispute over prison officer overtime pay has been resolved.
The Department of Justice is planning the most aggressive expansion of the Irish prison system in over ten years. It will increase prison spaces from 3,200 to 4,200.
And against a background of an increase in serious crime, particularly gun crime, the strength of An Garda Síocháana is being increased by 2,000.
However, the authors of the report suggest progress must be made in a number of other areas, some of which fall outside the aegis of the Department of Justice, if many of the most marginalised members of society are to escape chronic recidivism.
They suggest homeless prisoners should be recognised as a sub-group of the homeless population and that the Probation and Welfare Service appoint a dedicated team to work with "no fixed abode" persons appearing before the courts.
They identify drug use as a clear risk factor related to homelessness and criminality and recommend the development by the probation service of strong links with drug treatment facilities. The report also recommends drug-free units be established in all prisons.
The need for homeless and drug addicted inmates to be supported on release is also clearly set out.
The authors insist these persons must be supported in this regard by the Irish Prison Service, Probation and Welfare Service, health authorities, and local authorities in securing on release accommodation, medical treatment and training or employment.
Payments should be made to released inmates by community welfare officers when necessary to alleviate hardship, the authors believe.
The report also calls on local authorities to simplify the process of registering for housing. It also notes the need for more half-way houses for released offenders. It calls on local authorities to increase their stock of single person dwellings.
It says the process of assisting homeless inmates must begin with the cross-departmental committee on homelessness, which falls under the remit of the Department of the Environment and Local Government.
This committee, the authors conclude, needs to clearly define the responsibility of each relevant agency and authority in relation to the accommodation needs of offenders and ex-offenders.