An effective policy on crime prevention should tackle the worse excesses of human greed and selfishness across the social divide.
To understand the rising levels of crime in our society, we need to acknowledge that our highly individualistic, competitive culture is part of the reason why many violent and non-violent offenders feel no sense of responsibility to other people and their property.
Measures which seek to control problem people, rather than to reform offenders, can be counter-productive. In recent times, we’ve had more powers for the gardaí, restrictions on the right to bail, mandatory sentences and legislation to reduce the rights of the offender. These measures may make it easier to detect crime and secure prosecutions. But they won’t prevent crime from happening, and they won’t prevent young offenders from doing the crime again.
If we were expecting these measures to rehabilitate offenders, and render them less of danger to other people on their release, then we are going to be disappointed.
Heavier prison sentences may satisfy public anger. But no matter how long we incarcerate offenders for, they all get released eventually. As a society, we need to ask ourselves: ‘What do we want offenders to be like, on their release from prison?’
Instead of rehabilitating offenders, our prisons end up making the situation worse by exposing prisoners to more hardened criminals and to an environment where violence and drug-taking are the norm. We have created state-funded schools of crime. The response of the present government is to create even more places in these ‘schools’, even though there is no evidence that criminals are being deterred at all.
A better solution is to create closer links between the social justice system and the criminal justice system. I support the following steps:
- Establish a national programme for the re-integration of offenders into society
Currently, young offenders are leaving prison only to slip back, after a very short period of time, into habits and company that lead them down the path of criminality. Young offenders need mentoring while in prison, leading to educational, training and employment opportunities during their time inside, and on release. Liaison persons are needed to help such offenders avail of drug treatment where necessary, and to assist them with the many family problems which formed the background to their criminal activities. Research from abroad shows that where prisoners participate in education and training while in prison, they are much less likely to reoffend.
- Create a separate system of detention for mentally-ill prisoners
Many of the people in our criminal justice system, though judged fit to plead, have a variety of mental problems. The ‘normal’ criminal justice system can not provide the required punishment, reform and/or treatment that is needed.
- Develop alternatives to prison for non-violent offenders
In recent years, hundreds of people have been sent to prison for non-payment of fines. Such offenders clog up the prison system unnecessarily. More appropriate means of punishment, such as community service, should be used.
- Establish support persons for both victims and their families where serious crimes are being prosecuted
Victims of crime, and their families, feel helpless because of their peripheral role as witnesses or onlookers to criminal proceedings. Recent cases have highlighted their anger and frustration caused when sentences seem over-lenient or when certain evidence is not brought forward on the grounds that it would be prejudicial or inadmissible.
It is wrong that they should feel bruised and abused by the criminal justice system. The Courts Service should provide a comprehensive programme of support and advice throughout the investigation and prosecution of all serious crimes involving injury to the person.
- Greater political commitment to community policing
Community policing can be very effective in making communities safer places to live and can reduce the tension between the police and communities that are marginalised. It can be especially effective in dealing with young people and anti-social behaviour and can also enhance the Gardaí’s ability to detect serious crimes.
However, political commitment to community policing needs to be expressed through more resources and also through the involvement of the community in identifying policing priorities. Attention must be paid to ensuring that community policing is recognised as a priority and that suitable career paths are opened up with the structures of the Gardaí to ensure that talented policing skills are attracted and remain within community policing.