Prison Law: A Guide to Irish Law

In Ireland, prison litigation is becoming increasingly common. Prison numbers are at an all-time high and conditions in many Irish prisons have been criticized by international and domestic human rights bodies, such as the Irish Penal Reform Trust and the Inspector of Prisons, who have voiced concern about the lack of accountability for decisions taken by prison administrators on issues such as discipline, transfers, and release. The rights of prisoners are a key focus of the book. These rights are examined in relation to prison conditions, contact with the outside world, discipline, remission, transfer, and release. The book analyzes practical issues that Ireland's prison law practitioners are likely to come up against, such as causes of action, evidential difficulties, and time limits. It sets out the position of particular groups, including women, children, foreign prisoners, and those from an ethnic minority background. It identifies areas in which the treatment of prisoners gives rise to concerns under the country's Constitution or the European Convention on Human Rights. Contents include: the legal framework governing Irish prisons
• prison conditions and the law
• contact with the outside world
• remission, transfer, and release
• discipline
• accountability for deaths
• incidents giving rise to serious harm
• particular groups in the prison population
• practical issues for prison law practitioners.