Onus ‘on everyone’ to help reintegrate former prisoners

Everyone -particularly the media - has a responsibility to help integrate fortmer prisoners into society, according to a new report out Thursday.

The Irish Association for the Social Integration of Offenders has placed more than 13,000 offenders in work, education or training since it was launched in 2000.

But the body which works with the prison and probation services to provide alternatives to crime says more agencies and communities have to play a greater part in the reingegration of prisoners.

Association CEO Paddy Richardson said everyone has "some level of responsibility" and he singled out the media which he said should be "properly portraying the issues" rather than "trading on fears".

The association’s report for 2013/2014 says of the 13,000 placements some 40 per cent were placed in jobs; 35 per cent were placed in training and 25 per cent were placed in education. A total of 1,657 people were resettled in new communities on leaving prison.

Just 9 per cent were female.

The biennial report was launched by Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald.