Delighted to say that DR Dr Mary Steinbrecher passed her PhD viva today with (very) minor corrections. Marie’s thesis was on the independence of NPMs and as her examiners said, its an impressive piece of work with the potential to make a real impact on torture prevention.

*DEADLINE EXTENDED* Are you committed to human rights, equality and social justice? You now have until 12th April to apply for the role of Senior Policy and Research Officer! We're happy to answer any queries about the role – email [email protected] ✍ iprt.ie/recruitment/ip…

Great article by Vivian Geiran Mental Health Reform share many of these views including need for strengthened collaboration and sufficient investment in community-based mental health services to prevent individuals coming into contact with the criminal justice system irishexaminer.com/opinion/commen…

EUROPE’s IMPRISONMENT RATE continues to fall. However, #prison #overcowding persists in several states across Europe 🇪🇺 ⁦ 👉 Need for increased use of non-custodial measures. #TokyoRules 👉 Council of Europe Council of Europe Annual Penal Statistics 2020: coe.int/en/web/portal/…

“In prison there is a ‘nothing bothers me’ bravado. But when you get talking to them, even the [...] toughest prisoners may open up and you will know that is not the way they are." The Samaritans Listener service: by prisoners, for prisoners. 💬 independent.ie/irish-news/the…

Yesterday the Office of the Inspector of Prisons published an information booklet for people in custody. This important resource will be extremely helpful for increasing the awareness among people in custody of the role of the OIP #prisonoversight

New briefing by the Irish Penal Reform Trust examining the response to COVID-19 within the Irish prison system and highlighting the vital role accountability and oversight must play during this time.

A big congratulations to our project PI Mary Rogan on being elected as a fellow at Trinity College Dublin #TrinityMonday 🥳

Have you come up against systemic blocks on your path to secure employment following a convictions history? Consider sharing them below! You can stay anonymous. Pls share so a wider number of issues can be explored and potentially addressed 🔁 workingtochange.ie/gaps-blocks-fo… Siobhan Cafferty

The Office of the Inspector of Prisons are conducting a survey on the experiences of Irish Prison Service staff during COVID-19. Pls RT: This is a vital piece of research to develop our understanding of how the pandemic is affecting life in Irish prisons.

1/ Thrilled to announce the publication of my latest article on correctional oversight—“But Who Oversees the Overseers? The Status of Prison and Jail Oversight in the US.” ajclonline.org/?p=161. #prisonoversight #jailoversight The LBJ School

Today we have published two new reports looking at measures taken to control the risk of COVID-19 in prisons, and their impact on prisoners’ health and wellbeing. Read more prisonstudies.org/news/new-resea…

The Office of the Inspector of Prisons would like to thank the more than 500 Irish Prison Service staff that completed the COVID-19 Staff Survey. Learn more about the survey and COVID-19 Thematic Inspections here: oip.ie/covid-thematic….

If you are attending the Law and Society meeting next week, join us on Thursday for a discussion on the challenges to prison governance, where I will be presenting on the barriers to engaging with prison oversight. PRILA Punishment & Society CRN

CALLING ALL CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCHERS 📣 Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has several open Requests for Tender! Incl: ▪️ a scoping paper on a longitudinal analysis of people who offend ▪️ a rapid evidence review of reoffending (push factors + preventative responses) ➡ justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/…

If you are attending the Annual Irish Criminal Justice Agencies conference today, be sure to check out Dr Sophie van der Valk on the prisons panel. Sophie will be speaking on the use of complaints and monitoring procedures in prison!

Important report capturing the vital oversight work of the Office of the Inspector of Prisons during a very challenging year for Irish Prison Service and people in custody.

Very interested to see these preliminary findings from the recent COVID-19 survey conducted with staff at Irish Prison Service Looking forward to seeing the full analysis! 👍

Very important publication by the Office of the Inspector of Prisons of its first batch of thematic reports on COVID-19 in Irish prisons. The reports provide essential insight into the realities of Irish prisons during COVID.

New report published this week with @TricCON In ‘Public Health Law During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ireland’ @curristocrat Dr Sophie van der Valk and Mary Rogan write on public health restrictions in Irish prisons during COVID. Available here: tcd.ie/law/2020.21/CO…