A new report on the effectiveness of the criminal justice system has the potential to reduce crime rates and to save the State millions of euros according to its author.
The report published today by the Oireachtas Committee on Justice recommends a restorative justice programme as an alternative to jail sentences for first-time offender and less serious crimes.
According to the report's author, Fine Gael's Jim O'Keeffe, the system has already worked well on a pilot basis in Tallaght and Nenagh and is highly successful at reducing reoffending rates among those who take part in it.
The three main components of the report are a full acceptance of responsibility by the criminal, action by the criminal to repair the harm done and the offender making a commitment to engage in a process of education, training, or rehabilitation according to whichever approach will minimise the likelihood of future criminal behaviour.
Mr O'Keeffe said that the system would put the victim back at the centre of the criminal justice process.
"One of the worst failings of the current criminal justice system is that the victim is left out of the process, as the offender is required to repay the debt to society as a whole. Restorative Justice would put the victim back at the centre of the criminal justice process by requiring the offender to repair the harm done to the victim or the community," he said.
The report recommends that the scheme be rolled out nationwide on a graduated basis supported by new legislation and by a working group.
Mr O'Keeffe also said that restorative justice would also potentially save the State millions of euros by providing an alternative to prison.
He said: "It costs an average of €90,000 per annum to keep someone in prison, and the entire Prison Service cost €400 million to run last year.
"However, the pilot Restorative Justice scheme cost just €330,000 to run, with an average cost per person of €2,600 in Tallaght and just €1,000 in Nenagh," he added.
