Sir, - Following the announcement by the Minister for Justice and Law Reform that the Prison Service is to provide accommodation for 700 more offenders, I have decided to withhold that part of my income tax which supports the work of his Department.
Ireland currently has about 3,000 people in jail at any one time, and the Midland Prison, due to open shortly, will provide 515 more places. Why does the Minister feel he can fly in the face of all international evidence that prisons actually increase, rather than decrease crime? I appeal to judges and all concerned to consider the ample evidence that prison is the university of crime, and that far from reducing offending, it makes it easier to repeat.
In contrast, the creative modern movement for restorative justice brings the community, the victim, and the offender together to resolve the harm done by crime. Restorative justice leads to a tough but valuable programme for the offender, including the development of responsibility, an admission of the harm done, and new ways for the future. For the victim it focuses on restoring harmony and understanding and aims to bring healing.
The cost of maintaining prisoners is over £50,000 a year. The extra prison places will cost £115 million to build, and about £36 million a year to run. The money would be far better spent on programmes of restorative justice, drug rehabilitation and crime prevention through improved education and community resources in deprived areas.
Why not try more creative and long-term ways of resolving criminality which could prevent the revolving-door syndrome, give our youthful offenders a brighter future, and stop wasting taxpayers' money? - Yours, etc.,
Helen Haughton, Hillcrest Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18.