Pubdate: 29 Sep, 1999
Source: Irish Independent (Ireland)
Copyright: Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd
Contact:  http://www.independent.ie/
Author: Tom Brady, Security Editor

NEW WOMEN'S PRISON ESCAPES THE OLD MOULD

A NEW women's prison, opened yesterday by Justice Minister John O'Donoghue, 
resembles a block of red-bricked apartment from the street.

Gone is the traditional prison perimeter wall while the layout has been 
designed by the Office of Public Works to look like an urban residential 
complex without ignoring the necessary security measures.

Mr O'Donoghue yesterday removed his ``zero tolerance'' hat to hail the new 
development as one of the most modern prisons in the world that would help 
to prepare female offenders to be integrated back into the community.

The new pounds 13.5m jail built as part of the Mountjoy Jail complex is in 
stark contrast to the Victorian buildings alongside.

The rest of Mountjoy is now targetted for a major wing-by-wing 
refurbishment programme as soon as the remand prisoners have been moved 
fully to the new jail at Cloverhill, Clondalkin, and other inmates 
transferred to the Midlands prison when it opens in Portlaoise early next year.

A steering committee, set up five years ago to advise on design and 
facilities, included representatives from the Council for the Status of 
Women, the Employment Equality Agency and the Rape Crisis Centre while 
submissions from local resident groups were also taken into account.

The radical design ideas were embraced by Mr O'Donoghue when he took up the 
Justice post and, together with the planned expansion of the community 
service concept, it is seen as an adjunct to the crackdown on serious 
criminals.

The new women's prison will hold 80 inmates. These are mainly repeat 
offenders, and currently include three serving life sentences, a dozen drug 
offenders and some prisoners with psychiatric problems.

In contrast to normal cellblock accommodation, the women's jail is 
comprised of small self-contained houses, each of which will hold ten 
offenders.

There are facilities for recreation and making light refreshments contained 
in each unit.

An educational programme offering courses ranging from languages to beauty 
skills is also being incorporated in the new prison while there is a strong 
emphasis on child care and play areas to facilitate family visits.

Studies show that the vast majority of female offenders in custody come 
from poor social backgrounds, mainly in inner city areas.

The prison's location is planned to make it easier for offenders to stay in 
contact with their families through regular visits while a number of 
special bedrooms have been designed to accommodate mothers with young babies.

One unit is also being set aside as a half-way house or pre-release section 
for offenders who are nearing the end of their sentence.

As part of their preparation for release they will be allowed to take part 
in courses daily outside the prison.

The Probation and Welfare Officers branch of the Impact trade union last 
night welcomed the new jail but said more of its members should be 
allocated to staff the prison.

The Minister promised that the present allocation would be increased.

The Irish Penal Reform Trust said it was difficult to understand why, at a 
time of steeply declining crime rates, the Government was forging ahead 
with the biggest prison building programme in the history of the State.

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