1. IRISH PENAL REFORM TRUST
THE PENAL REFORM MOVEMENT IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

2. WHO ARE WE?
IPRT is committed to reducing imprisonment, respecting the rights of everyone in the penal system, and progressive reform of the penal system based on evidence-led policies.
In operational terms this means our focus is on: the use of imprisonment, including sentencing; alternatives to custody and diversion; and the treatment of those in detention.
VISION
MISSION
VALUES

3. What does the penal voluntary sector do in ROI?
SERVICE – e.g. IASIO
FAMILY SUPPORT – e.g. Bedford Row
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE – e.g. DOJ Social Enterprise Strategy 2016, Probation
MONITORING – e.g. Prison Visiting Committees
ADVOCACY AND CAMPAIGNING – IPRT
BUT…NO DEDICATED ADVICE SERVICE

4. Who funds this work?

5. What is the government and prison service policy position on the penal voluntary sector in ROI?
Oireachtas Committee Penal Policy 2013
Strategic Review Penal Policy 2014
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality
2018
Department of Justice
Irish Prison Service
Prison Officers/ Prison Officers Association

6. How diverse is the penal voluntary sector (taking into account e. g
How diverse is the penal voluntary sector (taking into account e.g. gender, ethnicity)?

7. What opportunities does the penal voluntary sector create for people with convictions?

8. How do penal voluntary organisations challenge the axis of penal power?
Abolition?
Human Rights AND Social Justice
Research e.g. Travellers in the Criminal Justice System, Care and Criminalisation
Policy Proposals e.g. Community Return, LRC Submission on sentencing, Turnaround Youth
Advocacy – international [UN, CPT], domestic [Committees] private and public
Campaigns e.g. Abolition of Solitary Confinement
Public Awareness – radio, tv, press, digital, traditional