WEBVTT

00:00.000 --> 00:06.211
And tonight we begin our special series on Irish Prisons, and what it's like for those living behind bars.

00:06.211 --> 00:11.998
Our mid western correspondent, Eric Clarke was given rare access to Midlands Prison in Portlaoise which has

00:11.998 --> 00:15.051
the largest prison population in the country. 

00:16.290 --> 00:19.426
Midlands Prison is a closed medium security prison with

00:19.426 --> 00:25.816
space for 870 adult male inmates serving a range of sentences, from short term to life.

00:25.816 --> 00:29.789
"Not a good experience to be in prison, but still an experience at the end of the day."

00:29.789 --> 00:35.735
"People have their ups and downs, like they've lost their freedom...

00:35.735 --> 00:39.070
...some people aren't going to be too happy."

00:39.070 --> 00:43.447
Prisoners are encouraged to avail of education and training workshops

00:43.447 --> 00:47.800
 incentives include an extra euro per day, additional daily phone calls

00:47.800 --> 00:52.323
enhanced visits, early release, or a move to a lower security prison.

00:52.323 --> 00:55.781
This kitchen serves the largest prison population in the country,

00:55.781 --> 01:00.335
and training positions here are considered a tasty proposition by the inmates. 

01:00.335 --> 01:05.284
"It would be a popular place to work, out of cell time..."

01:05.284 --> 01:13.250
"...they would be be here from quarter past eight in the morning to half five in the evening, so there wouldn't be as much hanging around the landings."

01:13.250 --> 01:18.160
"I find its good to get off the landing and keep busy and do something while i'm here on my senstence so..."

01:18.160 --> 01:24.445
"...and hopefully have the opportunity to have an open prison after a couple of months so."

01:24.445 --> 01:29.336
Officers keep a close watch on the tools used in this building skills workshop.

01:29.336 --> 01:34.342
It opened within last three years, and three inmates already achieved City & Guilds diplomas

01:34.342 --> 01:38.499
including this inmate whose serving a lengthy sentence for a drugs offence.

01:39.905 --> 01:44.176
"It keeps me busy during the day like, and gives me an incentive to go and do something..."

01:44.176 --> 01:51.286
"...and plus they have the incentivised regime as well, where you get an extra few quid in your graft so."

01:51.286 --> 01:57.889
Despite the best efforts of the Irish Prison Service, 51% of prisoners re-offend within a year of their release.

01:57.889 --> 02:04.598
"We try and do our best for them, but if they're going back to unstable situations outside..."

02:04.598 --> 02:08.838
"...that's a grave concern because it does affect us, it does mean they're coming back to us..."

02:08.838 --> 02:13.609
"...if they've no accommodation, or they're going back to a very disruptive home setting, they've..."

02:13.609 --> 02:18.500
"...nothing there in place for them. Their chances of re-offending is very, very high." 

02:19.981 --> 02:24.173
Assistant Governor of Midlands Prison, Pat O'Sullivan ending that report there from Eric Clarke.