Will early release for prisoners solve overcrowding crisis in Irish jails?

Sending Irish prisoners to jails in eastern Europe and letting some sex offenders out early with electronic tags are just two of the 16 recommendations put forward by an expert group to solve the overcrowding crisis in Irish prisons.

These two proposals are not being considered by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee but most of the measures in the Prison Overcrowding Response Group’s new report are, including pop-up prison cells and early release for a wide range of offences.

So packed are our 14 jails that for the past two years many offenders have already been released early – a drastic move that’s gone almost unnoticed.

But the problem keeps getting bigger as Conor Gallagher, Irish Times crime and security correspondent, explains as he outlines the challenges and possible solutions, including building a new prison.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.

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