A register of sex offenders who have been released from prison without undergoing a full programme of treatment while in prison will fail to address the problem of sex offenders in society, a spokeswoman for the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has said.
Dr Valerie Bressnihan was reacting to news yesterday of new legislation which includes the establishment of such a register.
The legislation, which is expected to be enacted before the end of the year, will enable the Garda to warn members of the public if a released sex offender poses a danger to them.
The Minister for Justice, and only on a strict need-to-know basis.
The legislation aims to protect the public from convicted sex offenders and includes powers to ban offenders from the vicinity of playgrounds, schools and other places where there may be children; to supervise offenders upon their release; to ban offenders from applying for jobs which involve access to children; and to compel offenders to notify the Garda i if they plan to change their address.
While welcoming the establishment of a register of sex offenders, Dr Bressnihan said the IPRT had sought a partial register rather than the "blanket" one now envisaged.
"We would feel that only those offenders who were a clear cause for concern - and one can notice that during their time in prison, notice how deeply in denial they are - should be on the register. To have a blanket register like this is going to unnecessarily create a climate of fear," she said.
"Going full out at the penal end, without going full out at the treatment end is failing to really address the issues around sex offence."
International research presented by Dr Paul Murphy, a clinical psychologist at the Department of Justice, at a conference in April showed that sex offenders who received treatment had a 15 to 20 per cent reduction in their likelihood of re-offending.
At present there are just 10 treatment places, and only in Arbour Hill Prison. Ten more places have been announced for the Curragh.
Treatment is given only to those who volunteer for it.
Ms Olive Braiden of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre described the extra 10 places as not enough. In response to the argument that 20 places are sufficient because no more than that volunteer for treatment, she said that sex offenders, when they are sent to prison, are classically in denial about having done wrong.
"The majority of sex offenders say they have not committed a crime." To begin to address this, she said, an assessment of every sentenced sex offender should be a compulsory part of their sentence. She also said treatment should be actively offered to every offender and they should be encouraged to take it up. Their denial should be challenged as soon as they enter prison, she said.
"Prison without treatment," said Dr Bressnihan, "facilitates their denial." Ms Braiden said that as well as a policing follow-up, there should be a support follow-up for offenders upon their release from prison.
"People we have spoken to say they feel very lost when they leave prison. Sex offending is like an addiction, and they need help if they are to break the addiction." She stressed that young sex offenders in particular need help upon their release.
"Follow-up is vital," she said. "With support, recidivism and the patterns of behaviour can be broken."
Senator Mairin Quill of the Progressive Democrats welcomed the establishment of a register of sex offenders, but said this would not be enough without the introduction of mandatory reporting.
She said the Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, should "stop dragging his heels" on the issue. "The Government needs to adopt an integrated strategy to tackle the crime of sexual abuse. I believe this strategy will not work effectively unless it includes mandatory reporting and a register of sexual offenders."
