Stop and Think of the 4,500 people in Prison

This Sunday is Prisoner Sunday and marks the end of Restorative Justice Week. When you have an opportunity, pause and think about people in prison

Prisoner Sunday is an opportunity stop and think about the people who are detained in prison and the conditions they experience. A staggering 13,758 people were sent to one of the 14 Irish prisons last year as punishment for the crime they committed. Their punishment is the removal of their liberty and the Government has a duty to provide a safe environment. However, serious concerns about the conditions in which a growing number of people have to endure. This Sunday think about the following:

Degrading conditions in prison: 1,000 people in prison have to go to the toilet in a basin/chamber pot (often times in front of others.

In addition to this: 1,866 people have to use a toilet in the presence of others.

Assaults: last year there were over 1,000 reported prisoner on prisoner assaults.

Risk of being assaulted: 17 per cent of all prisoners are 'on protection', many 23 hours each day, with limited or no access to educational or recreational facilities.

Prisoner Sunday is also about restorative justice:

Many victims of crime find that their needs are largely ignored by the Criminal Justice System. Restorative justice is a very structured way of bringing the victim and the offender together to discuss the crime, the circumstances of the offender and the impact on the victim. Where both parties agree, and the meeting is well run, it can have a major impact on both offender and victim. The offender comes to realise the impact which their crime has had on the victim, and the victim begins to understand where the offender is coming from.

Click here to read a reflection prepared by the Prison Chaplains.