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There is no doubt that @OCallaghanJim is a much more capable Minister for Justice.
This thinking has been predominantly pushed by the well funded Penal Reform Trust (@gavreilly name checks them earlier in the interview)
The Penal Reform Trust literally boast on their website about their impact on preventing the construction of a new prison in Thornton Hall.
They are “strenuously opposed” to it because building new prisons does not impact overcrowding
The Penal Reform Trust were HEAVILY funded by Atlantic Philanthropies at the time and now are almost entirely Govt funded – they have 4 staff.
Yes, prison is for violent people but it’s also an effective deterrent for non-violent crimes. For instance, let’s take white collar crime. Company law sets out Category 1, 2 & 3 offences which are punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or fines. This is carte-blanche to cowboys & shady practitioners who know that the law lacks teeth – just look at my recent Slumdog Asylum Millionaire post. There is no punishment. But this goes for all non-violent crimes too. Why not go joy-riding down the main road? sure the guards can’t do anything & even if you do get caught what’s the worst that’ll happen? The StoneyBatter attacker was out on bail. The slashers on St. Anne street were out on bail. We need to build prisons. We need to MAKE CRIME ILLEGAL
Who Watches the Watchers? 