A short, sharp shock could keep young offenders out of prison. A pilot scheme developed in Cork to give young offenders a foretaste of prison life has been taken up by the prison authorities in Limerick.
The idea is that by experiencing the reality of life behind bars, and what awaits them if they don't mend their ways, they will be put off a life of crime. The approach is an interesting one as the debate about the "revolving door" policy and lack of availability of prison spaces continues.
The idea is simplicity itself and costs nothing to administer. It is the brainchild of Sgt Pat Carroll, Juvenile Liaison Officer at Anglesea Street Garda headquarters in Cork. Studying how other police forces dealt with such offenders, he was struck by a particular approach in Texas and wondered if it could be adapted to an Irish context. He brought the idea to his superiors and to Mr Frank McCarthy, governor of Cork Prison.
The programme, known as the Prison Encounter Scheme, does not target hardened young criminals but youngsters caught up in the early stages of criminal activity, in the hope that they can be steered early back in the right direction.
Aimed only at males, it targets boys aged from 12 to 17 who have been cautioned under the Juvenile Liaison Scheme for petty crimes such as larceny, criminal damage, burglary, drug possession, forgery, handbag-snatching and "joyriding".
"The principle," says Mr McCarthy, "is that instead of sending them to prison we give them a culture shock, a taste of what prison is like. We don't show them the video facilities or the modern kitchen. Instead, we show them the drab reality of prison life, starting at the reception area, where prisoners are stripped naked and made to hand over all their clothes.
"They learn that unless they have three separate sets of clothes with them, they will have to wear prison issue if and when they come in here as prisoners. It's not a nice introduction to the place."
Nor is it meant to be. It's meant to shock, to influence those who are easily susceptible to peer pressure and who are already heading the wrong way, and get them thinking along the lines that actions have consequences more far-reaching than they have considered.
Once the youngsters have committed an initial offence and if he considers them to be suitable for the programme, Sgt Carroll invites them to join him for a tour of Cork Prison. Having received a caution under the juvenile liaison system rather than facing the possibility of a full court hearing, it's an offer they don't refuse.
Discretion is exercised to ensure their arrival at the prison does not subject the young people to the glare of unwelcome recognition or publicity, and to also ensure the anonymity of the prisoners is not compromised either.
So far, the programme has dealt with 146 young offenders. Not all of them have stayed clear of prison but then it was never expected there would be 100 per cent success.
"Official statistics are not available but from my work with young offenders and from my own research, I can say the overwhelming percentage of the youths have stayed out of prison when they might well have gone on to a life of crime," says Sgt Carroll. "At the end of the day, it's a question of how success should be measured. If even one young fellow is kept out of jail because of the programme, shouldn't that be called success?," he says.
"We use the programme for people in the medium- to high-risk category. Yes, it does shock them but I see it also as having a high educational value. The programme is run every second Thursday, or sometimes more frequently. When the boys arrive at the jail, the prisoners are in their cells. That is part of the strategy.
"They are accompanied on the tour by the prison chaplain, if available, and by a probation officer. You could put it like this: it's possible to get the sense of what an All Ireland final is all about by watching it on television. But when you actually go to Croke Park on match day, you get a different sense entirely. That's what happens with the prison visits. They get a real feel of what being behind bars is all about and what it's like to be confined for long periods in every 24 hours," says Sgt Carroll.
"They are shown the cells, and the prison doors are locked behind them. People don't easily forget the sound of those doors closing. A prisoner also talks to the boys, and this is a particularly useful part of the exercise. He shares with them his early experiences and where he went wrong. He offers pointers on the pitfalls he didn't avoid and which they still can.
"All these kids are at risk, and if early intervention can save them, then my philosophy is `Why not try it?'. There is no outlay involved - the prison is there and the staff are there - it's just a matter of organising things. I believe this programme is worthwhile," he says.
The prison governor is equally enthusiastic about the programme and believes its adoption by the Limerick prison authorities is proof that it can play an effective part in the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders. "I think what they encounter here is a culture shock. Bravado and all of that is easy on the outside. The prison visit gives them a different perspective. And when they meet the chosen offender, usually a middle-aged inmate with a lot of life experience, they hear from the horse's mouth, as it were, how a life can go wrong.
"His message is: `I was once like you but I made the wrong choices. Look at me now, I'm over 40 years of age and I've lost everything. If you have a spark of sense, you'll stay well away from here. Crime is a mug's game'," Mr McCarthy says.
During the visit, the probation and welfare officer gives a detailed rundown on all aspects of prison life, paying particular attention to the future ramifications of what it means to have a record. Jobs, the ability to travel freely to foreign countries, the stigma which the family feels etc; these are issues not uppermost in the minds of young people when the first temptation to commit a felony offers itself.
After their visit to Cork Prison, John (15) said: "I couldn't cope with all the discipline." Noel (17) said: "It was frightening, nothing like I thought it would be," and Colm (16): "An hour in prison is an experience I will never forget. Those locks, doors and cells made me think." David (15) said: "The worst experience of my life. I'll never take my freedom for granted again."
Serving prisoners like Michael and Donie have helped to form these opinions. Donie says: "I wish someone had showed me this place before I was sent here." Michael sums up his case succinctly: "They grabbed the money and ran. I was left to take the rap. They never even sent in a smoke during the past 18 months."