CALL FOR GREATER SUPPORT OF LGBT INMATES Prison Service under fire over failure to publish report
THE Irish Prison Service has been slammed over its failure to publish a policy to protect at-risk LGBT prisoners from bullying and potentially violence.
The Out On The Inside report commissioned by the Irish Penal Reform Trust found the IPS needed to consider and address the needs of LGBT prisoners.
The threat of violence was greatest in male prisons and single cell occupancy was recommended as “particularly necessary for LGBT prisoners”.
Researchers found there were no policies at that time specific to LGBT prisoners – with transgenders the most at risk.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror, Deirdre Malone, the executive director of the IPRT, said: “We made a number of evidence based recommendations ensuring the human rights of LGBT people would be protected.
“We hoped the outcome of that would be reduced incidences of bullying and it’s unfortunate that we haven’t seen a published policy.”
The IPS confirmed since 2013 after the court process and committal process one person claimed to be transgender in February 2015 “at Cloverhill Prison for their short custodial period”.
A spokesman said: “A person is accommodated in prison according to their birth gender and not their acquired gender. Any issues in relation to gender should have been addressed by the courts.”
After two high-profile deaths of trans-women in English prisons, a change of policy was brought in there last year to allow prisoners to go with the gender they identify as without having to get medical or Gender Recognition Certificates.
In recent years Ireland has been at the forefront of equality with the same-sex marriage referendum and Ms Malone said it was disappointing the prison service did not follow suit.
She added: “Not only are you a prisoner but you’re also a member of a minority group in a closed space and the potential for abuse within closed spaces is huge.”
Dr Nicola Carr, one of four authors who worked on the Out On The Inside Report stressed the importance of the IPS having a policy to protect LGBT and trans prisoners. An associate professor in criminology at the University of Nottingham, she said: “The Irish Prison Service said they would form a working group to basically develop a policy following on from our report.” It is understood that no working group has been set-up by the Irish Prison Service to date to develop a policy or study the report recommendations.
The IPS was contacted but it did not issue a response.
Not only are you a prisoner, you’re a member of a minority DEIRDRE MALONE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IPRT