THE DEPARTMENT of Justice is reviewing the law on sex offenders, including examining the possible introduction of mandatory treatment programmes, according to the Minister.
Dermot Ahern was speaking to journalists at the publication of the annual report of the Probation Service yesterday. He added that this was a very complex area, involving constitutional and legal issues. He also unveiled a plaque commemorating the opening of the service’s new offices in Smithfield.
He said that the past two years had seen a major restructuring of the Probation Service, with new operational regions set up across the country. The Young Persons’ Probation Division has been set up to implement the Children Act and work with the Irish Youth Justice Service, and funding to community-based organisations had been improved. The overall budget of the service was €54 million in 2008.
The Minister pointed out that almost 9,000 assessment reports on offenders had been prepared by probation officers in 2007, and almost 8,000 former prisoners were referred to the service for post-release supervision. This year is the 100th anniversary of the Probation Service, its director Michael Donnellan said yesterday.
The first probation officer, Cathleen Gargan, was appointed on December 29th, 1908, following the enactment of the Probation of Offenders Act the previous year.
“Some young people find themselves making bad life choices, causing harm and hurt to themselves and others,” he said.
“Caught in vicious cycles of poverty, chaotic home lives and dangerous influences, they, tragically for everyone, turn their backs on pro-social behaviour.
“They fall victim, creating other victims. This cycle must be broken.”
He said the Probation Service had learned from experience that change is possible when these young people and adults are held accountable and encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour.
The service is reviewing its community service programme, the report stated. It described one experience of community service, in which offenders helped repair and maintain bungalows provided for the elderly by the Society of St Vincent de Paul in Limerick.