Fitzgerald launches first Joint Strategy for the Management of Offenders

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald today launched the first Joint Strategy for the Management of Offenders and announced the extension of the Joint Agency Response to Crime (J-ARC).

The Joint Strategy was drawn up by the Probation Service, the Prison Service and An Garda Síochána with the full support of the Department of Justice.

The strategy sets out a range of agreed key objectives and supporting actions for the enhanced management of offenders, to be advanced on an inter-agency basis in the period 2016-2018.

It places particular emphasis on the management of high-volume offenders, sex offenders, perpetrators of domestic violence, combined with a strong focus on the rights and protection of crime victims.

The J-ARC programme, launched in Dublin last November, forms a key part of the strategy and is now due to be rolled out to Dundalk, Limerick City and Waterford City.

Addressing the launch, Ms Fitzgerald said: “Breaking the cycle of offending is essential to reducing crime and protecting the public.

“A disproportionate amount of property crime, some 75 per cent, is linked to 25 per cent of offenders. Targeting this cohort of repeat offenders has the potential to significantly reduce the number of burglaries being committed.

“While I believe that prison is the right place for serious and serial offenders, it makes sense to target identified prolific offenders with joint agency initiatives like this one, to address criminal behaviour and the harm it does. In this way, offenders’ behaviour can be changed, crime reduced and public safety increased.

“I especially welcome the commitment in the strategy of all three agencies to work together to address the serious consequences of domestic violence in our community, this heinous crime in our community can only be reduced with the dedicated focus outline in the strategy.”