Weekly visit change to jails in Portlaoise welcomed by prison campaigners
Weekly visits have finally been reinstated to families with loved ones in jails in Laois and other parts of Ireland a move that's been welcomed by the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT)
From Monday, December 12 the Covid-19 restriction that's been in place for more than than an half years was removed.
The option to visit loved ones in-person who are in prison was stopped in March 2020 under public health measures implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2022, physical visits were gradually reinstated but limited to fortnightly visits (alongside video visits).
In a statement, the IPRT said it had identified an 80% reduction in the number of children who physically visited an adult in prison between 2020 and 2021.
IPRT’s Executive Director, Saoirse Brady, said reinstating weekly prison visits is important for people in prison, their children, and their families.
"We in IPRT welcome today’s return to weekly prison visits for people in prison. While the suspension of physical visits was a necessary measure in response to the risks posed by COVID-19, families with a loved one in prison have been subjected to restrictions longer than most others. It has been incredibly tough on both people in prison and their families. The focus of the news should be on the positives that flow from these visits and not only on security aspects.
"Children, partners, and families having more opportunities to see their loved ones in prison before Christmas will likely have a hugely positive impact. Maintaining positive family contact has multiple benefits for the person in prison. Research shows that positive family contact is also a crucial factor in rehabilitation and reduces the likelihood of reoffending on release.
"The additional conditions on visiting in place over the last number of years have resulted in a huge reduction in the number of children visiting their loved ones in prison. We have been hearing stories of children who were upset that they couldn’t give their loved one a hug, despite mask wearing. In some cases, the number of people who could go into a prison for a visit was limited, meaning larger families had to choose which of their children got to go to see their loved one," she said.
The IRPT said it had also cause problems in jails.
"The limiting of physical visits in prison has had a significant negative impact on people in prison too. Family members have told us of the huge concerns they have for the mental health of their family member in prison. This impact on mental health was particularly stark in the absence of physical family contact and the lack of emotional support available to prisoners.
"It is important to emphasise that video calls have worked well, particularly for the many families who may face additional barriers such as access to transport, the cost of fuel for travelling or the length of time needed to travel to the prison. The choice of online video calls should therefore continue to be made available,” she said.
IPRT said it remains concerned that the Prison (Amendment) Rules 2020, which allow suspension/restriction of entitlement to visits due to infectious disease, remain in place. It said these amendments have no sunset clause and IPRT has repeatedly urged the Minister to revoke or, at the least, limit these provisions.
IPRT said there is still more to do in this including extending the duration of visits and expanding physical visits to include weekend and evenings to allow for times that suit family schedules.
While there is the capacity for prison visits to be booked online, IPRT also note that families without online access or facilities to make an online booking need to be considered. In order to support them, sufficient resources need to be in place to accept calls to book prison visits.
The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) says it is Ireland's leading non-governmental organisation campaigning for the rights of everyone in prison and the progressive reform of Irish penal policy, with prison as a last resort.