Poll: Do you think community service should be given for less serious crimes?

Rather than blocking up the prisons with less serious offenders would community service be a more viable option?

By Christina Finn Sunday 24 Aug 2014, 9:32 AM

Aug 24th 2014, 9:32 AM 12,698 Views 54 Comments

https://jrnl.ie/1635732

Man picking up litter on the side of the road.

Image: Shutterstock

Man picking up litter on the side of the road.

Image: Shutterstock

THE IRISH PENAL Reform Service (IPRT) believes prison should be the “sanction of last resort” when it comes to less serious crimes.

Do the crime, do the time?

Last year, there were 2,354 Community Service Orders made, with a total of just over 352,000 hours in lieu of a custodial sentence. Prison overcrowding has been a constant issue over the years also, with the current prison population standing at 3,892 as of 11 August. Rather than blocking up the prisons with less serious offenders would community service be a viable option or should it be the case of you do the crime you must do the time?

Deirdre Malone, Director of the IRPT maintains that community service is cheaper than jail and actually makes society safer.

So, we want to know what you think: Do you think community service should be given for less serious crimes?

Poll Results:

Yes (5306)

No (312)

I don't know (114)

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Christina Finn

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Poll: Do you think community service should be given for less serious crimes?