Overcrowding at Dóchas Centre 'unacceptable'
The Inspector of Prisons has called the overcrowding crisis at the Dóchas Centre in Dublin unacceptable.
The jail only has room for 105 inmates but usually has to accommodate 140.
In a new report, Judge Michael Reilly said the overcrowding causes constant tension and the Dóchas centre needs a change of focus.
Liam Herrick from the Irish Penal Reform Trust says there is a huge number of women coming before the courts for multiple offences.
"They're committing those offences because they're homeless, because they're suffering from addiction, because they're not accessing mental health services - and that's really where the problem lies," he said.
"There's a particular problem in Dublin with a group of women that have very high needs and are constantly circulating between homeless, mental health and the prison services," he added.
