Tonight, we continue our special series on life inside Irish prisons
and the efforts been made to rehabilitate inmates
officials say that without
family member support, prisoners are 63% more likely to re-offend
in the first year after their release.
Our Mid Western correspondent, Eric Clarke went to Limerick Prison, to see how family visits are making a difference.
Visiting time at limerick Prison where contact between inmates and their families is strictly limited,
and the environment is far from ideal for young children.
"I was getting anxious, I was getting scared to death. An officer was telling sit down with my child..."
"... and I couldn't bring him out jellies, or something to keep him going, to keep him occupied. There was nothing there..."
"... were no colouring pencils, they were banned from visits and things like that."
Prisoners serving a sentence here are entitled to just two 30 min visits per week.
This, more comfortable visiting room, which provides family activities in a more child friendly environment.
Is now available to inmates who complete a new family links course.
"It opened up my eyes to responsibility that my partner..."
"...has on her own. Rearing kids, and, basically it opened up my eyes to be a better father."
"It set me back and made me think - what am I doing..."
"... this age, I'm 24, there's a lot of my life ahead of me and I'm coming to jail since I was 15."
"It just made me realise how much I'm missing out."
Enhanced security screen ensures visitors aren't carrying contraband, allowing for greater interaction with inmates
The family links project is being piloted in Limerick Prison and
aims to release prisoners into a more stable home environment.
"An offender is 63% more likely to re-offend in the first year on release if he has no family support."
"So what we're trying to do is, do ourselves out of a job and reduce the recidivism rate within..."
"...within the prison service, which is 52% at the moment."
"So my attitude for when I get out is stick to what I'm doing. I'm doing well..."
"...and, be there for the kids, be there for the kids. Rear them and support them."
"An honest living is better than getting money from drugs, making money..."
"...from drugs, when you can't spend it happily. An honest living."
"A simple life is all I want, a simple life for me, my partner and my kids."
Eric Clarke, Ireland Live News.