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Far fewer prisoners will benefit from temporary release for Christmas this year, and concern about the risk of contracting Covid-19 while in the community is one of the factors behind the decline in numbers.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee has said 36 prisoners will be granted a variable period of temporary release during the holiday season, under the Criminal Justice Act.
The figure is down considerably from the number in the past three years, which stood at 142 in 2017, 137 in 2018 and 113 inmates last year.
Release periods will vary from a few hours to six nights.
All those who are released are subject to “strict conditions”, and any offender who violates them is subject to arrest and immediate return to prison.
This year’s figure represents 1% of the country’s total prison population.
Concern about the risk of contracting Covid-19 was one of several factors for the smaller number.
Other factors included a reduced number of detainees, which in turn has led to a smaller pool of eligible prisoners and increased use of structured temporary release programs during the year.
Due to the Covid-19 situation in Ireland, the Justice Department has said that “specific additional conditions” have been added to the temporary release of prisoners.
These include an obligation to comply with all public health guidelines when at home or in public.
All prisoners who are temporarily released must remain in quarantine upon returning to prison for a maximum of 14 days, or until they obtain a negative result from being tested for Covid-19.
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