The sentence management of men serving life sentences in Ireland: A multidisciplinary model

• In Event: Prison Working Group: Life and death sentences: Experiences, management, and ethical considerations

Abstract

Aligning with 2003 Council of Europe recommendations, the Irish Prison Service (IPS) Psychology Service and the Probation Service developed a new model of sentence management for people serving life sentences in Ireland. This human rights-based model applies to those sentenced after 01/04/2017. The model involves early multidisciplinary assessment, engagement, and sentence planning, rather than delaying intervention until the first Parole Board review. This is vital in the context of the Parole Act 2019, which moved the first Parole Board review from year seven to year 12.

This presentation will discuss PhD research, which, using quantitative and qualitative methods, explored the management of men serving life sentences in Ireland, with particular focus on the new model. Using the IPS Prisoner Information Management System, data was collected from the files of 352 men serving life sentences in Ireland. This included demographic data, offence data, and the following data by sentence stage: disciplinary reports, visits, letters, telephone calls. The aim was to identify key strengths, needs, and risks that would guide priorities at different sentence stages (early=0-7 years, middle=7-14 years, late=14-21 years, above average=21+ years). Interviews were also conducted with 13 men serving life sentences at different sentence stages. The aim was to explore the experiences of those sentenced both before and after the implementation of the model on 01/04/2017.

Findings to date will be discussed. Together with human rights standards, this research will meaningfully inform the development of life sentence policy and practice in Ireland.

Author

• Anna Flynn, University of Limerick & Irish Prison Service