FG hail plans to tag low-risk criminals
Electronic tagging could give petty criminals a chance to go straight, it was claimed today.
Jim O’Keeffe, Fine Gael justice spokesman, said the big brother monitoring system would deter first time crooks from re-offending.
The Department of Justice confirmed officials were drawing up plans based on the British hi-tech tagging scheme to amend to the Criminal Justice Act.
Mr O’Keefe said following the example of the UK authorities tagging could be the best answer to a rising prison population and spiralling crime rates.
“Sending someone to prison, particularly a first-time offender, is not always the best form of punishment, particularly if it encourages them to pursue crime as a career,” Mr O’Keefe said.
“Tagging also assists with the rehabilitation and re-integration of offenders, allowing them to hold down their jobs and stay in contact with their families.”
It is understood senior officials at the Department of Justice discussed the use of tagging with their counterparts in the British Home Office.
Mr O’Keefe said the system would also prove to be a cost-effective way of punishing criminals. It is understood the scheme could cost as little as €4,000 per offender, much less than imprisonment.
“For minor and first time offences, tagging relieves pressure on overcrowded prisons, and in the long term it can keep young people out of prison,” he said.
“It also ensures that prison places are available for serious offenders and that they can serve their full sentence.”
It is understood an amendment to the Criminal Justice Act providing for tagging could be in place by Easter.
But prison reform campaigners attacked the move and called for a wider overhaul of the sector.
Joe Costello, Labour Party justice spokesperson, said tagging was not the answer for low-risk offenders.
“There might be a case for tagging of more serious offenders, such as those found guilty of serious sexual offences, it would seem strange to tag anyone found guilty of relatively minor public order offences,” he said.
Mr Costello said it was typical of the Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s incoherent prisons policy.
A Department of Justice spokesman confirmed senior civil servants were drawing up plans to amend legislation and bring in the hi-tech monitoring.
