Prison Service 'top heavy' with bureaucracy

The State's first Inspector of Prisons and Places of Detention has expressed concern at spending priorities within the Prison Service, suggesting the administration is "top heavy".

Mr Justice Dermot Kinlen said he was "concerned at the large costs of running the Prison Service and how little of the budget reaches the prisoners' needs".

Referring to the headquarters administration, he wrote: "There were approximately 80 staff involved in the running of the service prior to the move to Clondalkin where now there are at least 120 staff. Was there a need for a 50 per cent increase of staff?"

The inspector also said he was "very concerned that we have a higher prison officer/prisoner ratio level than any other country in the world".

On tours of prisons, he said he asked management and staff whether there was an improvement in service following the increase in staff at headquarters. "I was informed by both groups that in fact things at prison level had got worse and the extra staffing caused more confusion and even duplicated the work as different officials were seeking the exact same information."

He added: "I wonder if the administration is top heavy."

In his first annual report for the year 2002-2003, the inspector also called for "old prisons" such as Mountjoy and Portlaoise to be demolished "and rebuilt or replaced elsewhere".

Conditions of buildings in the two prisons, and a small part of Limerick Prison, were "very poor," he said. "The sanitary facilities are appalling and for prisoners and staff to have to live and work in such conditions in this age is just unacceptable."

Among the issues highlighted in the report were homelessness and destitution among prisoners on discharge. He said a prisoner could leave prison with €60 or less in his pocket, "which almost certainly would be spent on alcohol or drugs It is appalling that prisoners should be put on the side of the street without a structured source of income or even a roof to give shelter.

"The fact is that as a State we are prepared to spend in the region of €1,300 a week to retain an offender in prison but are unwilling to offer any adequate financial support on release."

The inspector also highlighted the issue of racism in prisons, of which he said "a lot of the management and staff are not fully aware". He said he was told some prison officers "would shout 'hey you coco' when trying to attract the attention of 'a coloured man'."

In Cloverhill Prison, chaplains informed him that racism was "rampant". Subsequently, he interviewed 19 Chinese prisoners detained there and "they stated that they travelled as a group to protect themselves from taunts from other prisoners and had learnt the word 'chinks'.

"They objected strenuously to eating potatoes as they hated them. They asked why couldn't they get rice. In fact rice was served one day during my visitation. I mentioned it to the governor who immediately put rice on the menu. It is actually cheaper than potatoes. Now I am happy to say rice is available to anyone who wants it. I would like to thank the governor very much for his very speedy response."

In an introduction addressed to the Minister for Justice, the inspector states: "Far too many people are sent to prison. It is a finishing school in criminality for many young people. Young people also may get their first introduction to drugs in prison.

"Violent crime must at the moment require incarceration where prisoners develop their own self-awareness. They should address their inability to control anger and other anti-social behaviour. However, homelessness, truancy, and lack of parental control are obviously some of the factors to be addressed."