IPRT ebulletin

2nd December 2013

Introduction

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IPRT Seminar: Re-designing the Pattern - Women and the Criminal Justice System

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Changes at IPRT

There has been much change at IPRT HQ in recent months, not least our move to our new offices in the MACRO Community Building on 1 Green Street (off Nth King Street), Dublin 7 where we continue to enjoy fine views over Dublin 7.

In November, we were sad to say goodbye to two members of the IPRT staff team. Office Manager Mary Gaffney finished work with IPRT on 8th November, after more than 4.5 years with IPRT. During her time with IPRT, Mary played a central role in establishing IPRT's relationships and networks, and was the first contact many people had with the organisation.

We were also sorry to say goodbye to Jane Mulcahy, who worked with IPRT for three years as Research & Policy Officer. Among many projects and submissions, Jane's work was key to our highly successful CPT, UNCAT and UPR human rights engagement during 2011/12, which brought about much positive change. Both Jane and Mary will be greatly missed.

We also thanked Liza Costello who worked with IPRT as Research & Policy Officer (Maternity Leave) from July to the end of November 2013. Among a number of different projects, Liza worked on a discreet project looking at the particular experiences of members of the Travelling Community in prison in Ireland, a project which is funded by the St Stephen's Green Trust. We look forward to launching the final report in the New Year. Liza also worked on the forthcoming IPRT Position Paper on Women in the Criminal Justice System.

In September, we welcomed back Kate O'Hara to the IPRT Office as employment-based PhD student. Kate commenced her doctoral studies in conjunction with IPRT and Dublin Institute of Technology in March 2013. Her project entitled "Community service orders versus short custodial sentences: Examining risk, recidivism and need" is funded by IPRT and The Irish Research Council, as part of their employment-based postgraduate scholarship scheme. The project will investigate the range and effectiveness of alternatives to short-term prison sentences available in Ireland, and internationally. Kate worked as intern with IPRT from Feb to June 2010, and has continued to volunteer and support IPRT ever since. We are delighted to have her back in an official capacity! Kate can be reached at: research@iprt.ie

Tríona Lenihan, who worked with us on an internship from the start of February, finished at the end of July to take up a position with Penal Reform International in London. Tríona was a terrific asset to IPRT, not least in the busy run up to the IPRT AGM and Annual Lecture! Tríona developed the Briefing on Solitary Confinement, Isolation, Protection and Special Regimes, published July 2013, which can be accessed here. We wish her every best wish in her future.

Finally (but not least!) we were delighted to welcome Ronan Hickey to the IPRT office team mid-October 2013. Ronan will be working with us an intern until the end of January 2014, and is currently working on an international comparison of standards of prison inspection, among other projects.

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Sustainability of IPRT

Reflecting the challenging funding environment we find ourselves in, IPRT is in a process of restructuring with the aim of ensuring that we maintain our presence as a strong independent voice for penal reform.  We have reduced our core staff team from 5 to 3, but we hope that by attracting new project funding we will be able to maintain our level of activity in the year ahead. 
 
On the funding side, we have received positive news from the Atlantic Philanthropies that they will continue to fund our work until the end of 2016 (at which point the Atlantic Philanthropies will cease grant-making in Ireland). This is a major boost to IPRT and will ensure that we can make a major impact during a crucial period in penal policy development.  
 
We have also received positive news about a number of EU funded internationally projects which we have been funded to work in over the next two years. On the less positive side, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust have announced that they will cease funding work in the Republic of Ireland at the end of 2016, meaning that our two largest sources of funding will be removed at that point. 
 
The next three years will be challenging, but the Board and staff of IPRT are determined to do whatever it takes to make our work sustainable beyond 2016.  At this moment, we are making a major impact on penal policy and we know that a strong IPRT will be needed beyond 2016 to continue that work.  As we try to identify new sources of funding to support our work, we will need your help. Even small donations or standing orders can make a huge difference to a small organisation like IPRT. 
 
As ever, we welcome your feedback and suggestions - if you would like to share your thoughts, please get in touch.

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IPRT Internship Programme

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Become a Member

Would you like to become a member of IPRT?
Annual membership is just €10 for students, €40 for individuals, €80 for organisations/firms, and free to prisoners and their families. We can’t promise you lots of free stuff, but by becoming a member of IPRT you will be expressing your support for urgent penal reform in Ireland.

Why not consider becoming an IPRT member now?
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