Madam, - I write to you in light of the recent comments by Fine Gael defence spokesperson Billy Timmins that the Defence Forces could provide an alternative to prisons for young juveniles. The probation officers' branch of Impact would recommend extreme caution about any such proposal.
Through YPP (Young Persons' Probation) our members work with young people involved in the criminal justice system to help them right wrongs. Through restorative justice young people who offend meet victims or representatives of their victims and take responsibility for their actions.
Family conferences are held with the young person, their parents, other professionals and the victim may chose to attend or send a representative. An action plan is drawn up with an emphasis on agreed actions that demonstrate the offender taking responsibility for their behaviour. Restorative justice allows young people to take responsibility and exit the criminal justice system. It has been proved in other jurisdictions to be an effective way of ensuring safer communities.
The Young Persons Probation Interim Strategy 2006-2007 was launched yesterday, November 22nd, in Dublin. The full implementation of the Children's Act would be a better use of any recourses that might be spent on Mr Timmins's no doubt well-intentioned proposals. - Yours, etc,
ÁINE MORRIS,
Probation Officers Branch,
Impact,
Dublin 7.
A Chara, - First it was drunk tanks, today it's boot camps and soon enough the bells will be ringing out for Christmas Day. In fact, Enda Kenny's latest proposals make me wonder whether the entire Fine Gael manifesto is one big Fairytale of New York, or wherever it is he's getting the ideas from.
The ludicrous idea that we should take young offenders and put them in an environment where they will be "taught some manners" by the Irish Defence Forces will surely only result in the training of squadrons of superthugs - highly fit, more disciplined, better organised and with even more suppressed anger and chips on their shoulder against society.
With more realism and less reality TV, the voters may just begin to take Fine Gael seriously. - Is mise,
SALLY HOGG,
Shea's Court,
Dublin 7.
Madam, - Fine Gael has called for "boot camps" for young offenders to be operated by our defence forces. The party cites the Thorn Cross young offenders' institution in the UK to support the notion of the Irish Defence Forces operating such a facility here. Fine Gael says that Thorn Cross shows the benefit of intensive regimes run by the army. But Thorn Cross is not run by the army. It has no military involvement. It is run the UK prison service. It is staffed by probation and welfare professionals, not army sergeant-majors. Thorn Cross could not be further away from the Defence Forces-run facility which Fine Gael says it want to see here.
For the main opposition party to propose something so inaccurate and flawed is frightening. People want secure, disciplined, professionally run facilities for juvenile offenders. They want them run by those qualified to do it - not just the nearest person in a uniform. - Yours, etc,
AISLING WALSH,
Earlsfield,
LONDON SW18.