30/06/2009

Jail Population Far Below Euro Average

Ireland has one of the lowest rates of incarceration in Europe, new statistics have revealed.

The figures released by European statistics company Eurostat show Ireland falls far below the European average with 75 prisoners per 100,000, compared to the European average of 123.

Slovenia and then Finland, who had a rate of 60 prisoners per 100,000, experienced the lowest prison rates. Estonia had a massive 302 prisoners, but this is dwarfed when compared to the USA who has jailed 758 of every 100,000 in its population.

Meanwhile, the UK has an average of 122 detainees, which sits right on the European average.

According to statistics in 2006, Ireland has 3,050 inmates. However, Ireland suffers from massive overcrowding in its prisons, with occupancy levels reaching a level of 107%.

Murder rates in Ireland and in Dublin are also higher than the European average, which is thought to be largely the result of gangland activity.

(DW/BMcc)

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