Press release
Minister for Justice Simon Harris publishes the Report of the Review of Prison Visiting Committees
Published on
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Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Justice Simon Harris has published a report on the Review of Prison Visiting Committees which has been informed by a wide-ranging public and stakeholder consultation. The Review and its recommendations can be read here: Report on a review of Prison Visiting Committees 2023
The completion and publication of this Review meets the Programme for Government commitment to review the existing functions, powers, appointment procedures, and reporting processes of Prison Visiting Committees, and a key commitment under the Department of Justice’s own Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024.
The function of Prison Visiting Committees are to visit the prison they are appointed to at frequent intervals and to hear any complaints which may be made to them by any prisoner. The Committees report to the Minister for Justice any abuses observed or found by them in the prison and any repairs which they think may be urgently needed.
Completion of this review will allow for the reform of Prison Visiting Committees in line with today’s rehabilitation focussed practices. Reform of the legislation underpinning Prison Visiting Committees will be advanced alongside legislation to achieve compliance with the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT) which the State signed in 2007 and continues to work towards full ratification of.
The recommendations made in the Report have been informed by a public consultation process and have been developed with the goal of recognising the value of these Committees while modernising their functioning and pursuing best practice wherever possible.
The report provides 22 legislative recommendations and 27 non-legislative recommendations, the majority of which are focused on the structure, membership and appointment process of the Committees.
Speaking about the Report the Minister for Justice said:
“Prison Visiting Committees have played an important role in the oversight of our State’s prisons by reporting to the Minister for Justice on issues of quality of accommodation, catering, medical, educational, welfare and recreational facilities for prisoners since their first establishment in 1925.
“I would like to thank all of the current members of Prison Visiting Committees for their commitment to this important and sensitive work.
“As this report makes clear, Committees represent personalised pastoral care which is important to the wellbeing and rehabilitation of prisoners, and the Committees do that with great diligence and commitment.
“Taken together these recommendations will modernise practices and support the functioning of Committees and their membership, which should in turn lead to better outcomes for prisoners in terms of rehabilitation and reintegration, ultimately improving public safety through the reduction of reoffending.”
The Prisons (Visiting Committees) Act 1925 provided for the statutory establishment of Prison Visiting Committees for each prison. Rules relating to the specific functions and operation of such Committees are set out in the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Order 1925, and the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Order 1972.
Under these current statutory provisions, the function of Prison Visiting Committees is to visit, at frequent intervals, the prison to which they are appointed and hear any complaints which may be made to them by any prisoner. They report to the Minister for Justice any abuses observed or found by them in the prison and any repairs which they think may be urgently needed.
At present, the members of each of the Prison Visiting Committees of the twelve prisons/places of detention are appointed by the Minister for Justice under the Prison (Visiting Committees) Act 1925, as applied by section 4 of the Prisons Act 1970.
The review of Prison Visiting Committees was to examine their existing functions, powers, appointment procedures, and reporting processes. This report seeks to ensure greater efficiency and transparency in the appointment, administration, and reporting of Prison Visiting Committees, enhance the members’ understanding of their roles and powers within the Prison Visiting Committees, and broaden knowledge and awareness of their function and availability amongst the prison population and community.
An online public consultation was opened in July 2022, and remained open for 6 weeks. Over 100 submissions were received from a range of stakeholders, including, but not limited to, current and former Prison Visiting Committees members and Chairs, Irish Prison Service staff and Governors, academics, current or former prisoners and their families, and civil society organisations.
Department of Justice officials were also invited to meet with the National Prison Visiting Committees Chairpersons Group for an in-person consultation on 8 August 2022. In August, department officials also engaged with the Irish Prison Service to facilitate direct consultation with people in prison.