U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Gendered Irish Experiment: Grounds for Optimism? (From Gender and Justice: New Concepts and Approaches, P 165-187, 2006, Frances Heidensohn, ed. -- See NCJ-219137)

NCJ Number
219144
Author(s)
Barbara Mason
Date Published
2006
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This chapter provides a case study of how a new prison for women in Ireland, which opened in 1999 (the Dochas Centre), marks the beginning of an innovative correctional development for female offenders.
Abstract
Built for 80 women inmates, the Dochas Centre includes both sentenced and remand inmates who cover the spectrum of ages, offense types, sentence lengths, and backgrounds. The new architecture (houses were used for living units) was designed to facilitate relaxed interaction among inmates and staff and show respect for inmate social needs. Living in houses added a degree of normal living comparable to that after their release, thus providing opportunities for self-discipline and responsibility required for living in the community. Programs were directed at the specific needs of individuals rather than treating the inmates as a homogeneous group. The involvement of outside practitioners and resources was encouraged. This included not only support from various agencies but also the informal involvement of volunteers and interested members of the public. Such offerings were generally welcomed by the women. Since there are no official data published on reoffending for released Irish prisoners, the degree of the Dochas Centre's effectiveness was measured by less tangible and more subjective indicators. The responses from the women themselves showed a general level of satisfaction. Many took advantage of the variety of educational opportunities offered. Anecdotal evidence indicates that many of the released women managed to overcome drug addiction and start a new life. They returned regularly to the center to help the residents deal with issues similar to their own. Other released women were helping in treatment centers, and one woman was working on a project intended to help women prisoners reintegrate into the community. 39 references