Minister: Community work may be used in lieu of jail as Cork Prison struggles with overcrowding

With overcrowding in Cork Prison reaching another record high last week, justice minister Jim O’Callaghan has said he is looking at not just speeding up prison construction, but also the increased use of community-based penalties, instead of jail time.

Last Tuesday saw 421 people in custody in Cork Prison, while 417 were held there on Monday, both figures considerably above the previous record of 410 set at the start of this year.

The prison has capacity for 304 people, up slightly from its previous 296-bed capacity at the start of this year, but despite the extra eight beds, 117 people incarcerated there on Tuesday did not have a regular bed.

Asked on Friday about overcrowding at Cork Prison, Mr O’Callaghan said he was “very aware of the difficulties within the prison estate”.

He added that last year he had received approval for an expedited prison construction programme. “I’m not just looking, however, at extending prison spaces,” he said.

“I’m also bringing forward legislation in the miscellaneous provisions bill that will allow for greater use of community sanctions, and that’s something I would like to see the courts availing of more.”

Such sanctions include community service and probation, rather than jail time.