Skip to content
Inspector of Prisons Logo Inspector of Prisons Logo Inspector of Prisons Logo

More results...

  • Home
  • What We Do
  • Who We Are
  • Publications
    • Inspection Reports
    • Investigation Reports
    • Annual Reports
    • Latest Publications and News
    • Press Releases
    • Governance Documents
    • Public Sector Duty
    • Other Materials
      • Information Booklet
      • DiC Information Booklet
      • COVID-19 Thematic Inspections
      • Family Pamphlet
    • Gallery
  • Recommendations
    • Inspections
    • Death in Custody Investigations
  • Contact
    • Dublin Office
    • Oireachtas Contact
  • Home
  • What We Do
  • Who We Are
  • Publications
    • Inspection Reports
    • Investigation Reports
    • Annual Reports
    • Latest Publications and News
    • Press Releases
    • Governance Documents
    • Public Sector Duty
    • Other Materials
      • Information Booklet
      • DiC Information Booklet
      • COVID-19 Thematic Inspections
      • Family Pamphlet
    • Gallery
  • Recommendations
    • Inspections
    • Death in Custody Investigations
  • Contact
    • Dublin Office
    • Oireachtas Contact

Launch of the Framework for the Inspection of Prisons in Ireland

  1. Home
  2. Latest Publications and News
  3. Launch of the Framework for the Inspection of Prisons in Ireland

Today we are pleased to announce that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Helen McEntee TD, launched the Framework for the Inspection of Prisons in Ireland.

Please see below for a copy of the Inspection Framework and statement from the Department of Justice and Equality.

A Framework for the Inspection of Prisons in Ireland (single page)
A Framework for the Inspection of Prisons in Ireland (double page)

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Helen McEntee TD, has today welcomed the publication of the Inspection Framework for Prisons in Ireland by the Inspector of Prions, Ms. Patricia Gilheaney.

Speaking at the launch, Minister McEntee said,

“I know the Inspectorate is committed to undertaking a comprehensive and systemic programme of inspections of Ireland’s prisons – in an independent, transparent manner with a focus on improvement and prevention and I very much welcome and support this work. A key requirement of this commitment is the development of an Inspection Framework, and – with this in mind – I am delighted to launch this Framework today.”

The Inspection Framework sets out how the Inspectorate will conduct inspections of prisons in Ireland. It is informed by the statutory underpinning of the Inspector in legislation, national legislation relating to prisons and prisoners’ rights, and international obligations owing to prisoners.

It also draws upon relevant international human rights standards, in particular the preventive approach, and standards set by the Optional Protocol to the United Nations.

Development of the Inspection Framework involved consultation with a wide range of stakeholders in Ireland and abroad, including the Department of Justice and Equality, the Department of Education and Skills, non-governmental organisations, the Council of Europe, academics and other experts.

Minister McEntee highlighted the importance of oversight mechanisms in achieving the shared aim of reducing re-offending, improving prisoner outcomes and delivering important rehabilitation initiatives and stated,

“I know that the Inspector will continue to play a vital role in providing valuable external scrutiny of Prisons in Ireland, a role now underpinned by this best-practice Framework”.

ENDS…/

Notes for editors
The Office of the Inspector of Prisons is a statutory body, independent in how it carries out its work, set up under the Prisons Act 2007. A key objective for the Office of the Inspector of Prisons is to deliver a robust programme of inspection throughout all of Ireland’s prisons, guided by an Inspection Framework based on international good practice.

The Inspection Framework is based on five focus areas, measured against three dimensions.

‘Focus Areas’ are the major factors which affect, and reflect, the welfare and human rights of prisoners and others working in and visiting prisons. Five Focus Areas will be used as appropriate for each inspection:

  1. Safety and Security
  2. Respect and Dignity
  3. Health and Wellbeing;
  4. Rehabilitation and Development
  5. Resettlement

‘Dimensions’ are the overarching and crosscutting criteria of an inspection. Three Dimensions will be used to assess each of the Focus areas, as follows:

  1. Outcomes
  2. Compliance
  3. Environment

The Focus Areas and Dimensions will be assessed using measures drawn from a range of sources including legal requirements, international guidelines and best practice.

A copy of the Inspection Framework document can be found below.

A Framework for the Inspection of Prisons in Ireland (single page)
A Framework for the Inspection of Prisons in Ireland (double page)
September 15th, 2020|

Contact Us

Office of the Inspector of Prisons
29 Molesworth Street
Dublin 2
D02 PF82

Phone: +353 1 859 2709

Email: [email protected]

Our Location

Click to view our location on a map

Useful Links

  • Useful Links
  • Oversight Agreement
  • Freedom of Information
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Sitemap
© Copyright - Office of the Inspector of Prisons | All Rights Reserved
Page load link
Font Resize
Accessibility by WAH
  • Home
  • Inspections Recommendation and Status Update
  • Inspections Recommendation Monitoring
  • Investigation Recommendation and Status Update
  • Investigations Recommendation Monitoring
  • COVID-19 Thematic Inspections
  • Information Booklet
  • What We Do
  • Who We Are
  • Publications
    • Governance Documents
    • Public Sector Duty
    • Gallery
    • Inspection Reports
      • General Inspection Reports
      • Thematic and Functional Reports
    • Annual Reports
    • Investigation Reports
      • Other Investigation Reports
      • Death in Custody Investigation Reports
        • Death in Custody – Report by Year of Death
        • Death in Custody – Report by Year of Publication
    • Latest Publications and News
    • Press Releases
  • Other Materials
  • Dublin
  • Oireachtas Contact
  • Useful Links
  • Freedom of Information
  • Oversight Agreement
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Sitemap
Go to Top