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Mountjoy gets poor report from visiting committee

Wednesday, 13 August 2008

OVERCROWDING in Mountjoy Prison could be alleviated if the practice of jailing people for minor offences such as non-payment of TV licenses was addressed, according to a recently released report.
The Visiting Committee prison report for 2007 states that a “worrying number” of people imprisoned for petty offences is adding to problems at the Northside prison.
“With the high cost of maintaining a prisoner, is it appropriate to incarcerate such offenders in prison and place unnecessary pressure on an already overstretched and expensive system?” the report asked.
“Sadly, overcrowding continues to be a major problem.
“While improvements continue to be made to both the toilet areas and cells, the benefits are often negated by the necessity to double up in cells due to overcrowding.
“This occurs far too often and in December numbers exceeded 570 - we noted a level of 515 in our last report.”
The report raised a number of other concerns such as the sanitary conditions at the prison.
“As has been noted in previous reports, the buildings are unsuitable for the detention of male persons committed there,” the report stated.
“In 2007 for human beings to still be without adequate sanitary facilities in their cells – the same cells that they eat and sleep in - is totally unacceptable.
“It is very important for all concerned to remember that the person is detained to deprive them of their freedom for the duration of their sentence, not for further punishment.”
The detainment of illegal immigrants in the prison for up to eight weeks was also highlighted as a situation that needs to be addressed.
“During the year we observed up to six people being held, pending deportation, in small offices,” the report reads.
“Also we observed committed people in similar conditions. We find this practice unacceptable and appeal that it is discontinued.”
The Visiting Committee also had harsh words to say in relation to the use of padded cells in Mountjoy.
“In 2005 it was announced that padded cells were closing.
“We believe they were upgraded, but not closed, and are unfit for lock up of people for two hours let alone three days or longer in some cases.
“We welcome the discontinuance of these cells as a form of punishment, and also the improvements in them.
The report continued: “However, just changing the name ‘padded cell’ to ‘special observation cell’ does little to satisfy us. In reality there is little or no difference.”
The scourge of drugs still plagues Mountjoy Prison, according to the report.
“We believe that there are still several channels of the supply of drugs into the prison,” it was stated.
“Last year we highlighted the pressure being brought on non-drug users to bring in drugs; this sadly still pertains.”
Meanwhile, the Dóchas Centre, which has a capacity to hold 90 female inmates, fared well in the report.
“We believe that the facilities in the Dóchas Centre are of a high standard, especially in comparison to the male prison,” it was noted.
“Whilst not the same level of overcrowding exists as in the male prison, the risk is real that services may suffer if numbers are not controlled.
“As previously highlighted we are concerned by the housing of non Irish nationals awaiting deportation in the Dóchas Centre. This results in short-term overcrowding and the reduction of services which can be provided.”

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