From Punishment to Prevention: Report Launch

Launch of a new report on poverty, inequality & pathways into the Irish criminal justice system, with panel discussion & art exhibition

From Punishment to Prevention: Poverty, Inequality and Pathways into the Irish Criminal Justice System : This report, externally commissioned by the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) and authored by researcher Clare O’Connor, examines how poverty, inequality, and community-level deprivation influence engagement with the criminal justice system in Ireland. Drawing on mixed-methods research, including participatory research with people with lived experience, it provides an updated evidence base on the intersection of socioeconomic disadvantage and contact with the criminal justice system. The report also explores justice reinvestment approaches, outlines relevant human rights obligations, and identifies evidence-led alternatives to imprisonment-focused responses, emphasising prevention and social investment.

The launch event will feature a small exhibition of artwork developed through the report’s community-based research, offering a visual lens on the experiences and insights of those involved. The socially engaged artist, Aaron Sunderland Carey, reflects on the justice system and community experiences through this work.

The event will be chaired by Senator Lynn Ruane and will include contributions from expert speakers, followed by a panel discussion.

• Dr Sharon Lambert, Senior Lecturer, School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork
• Mr Justice Paul Kelly, President of the District Court
• Martin Quigley, Director of Data and Analytics, Pobal

Funding
The report was funded by Community Foundation Ireland.