Prisoners tell how they experience inspections and the complaints system

Abstract

In 2018 and 2019, researcher Sophie van der Valk carried out research on inspection and complaints in three Irish prisons. Ms van der Valk wanted to: • learn how prisoners experienced inspection by outside groups • examine the complaints system to see how it worked • find out what prisoners thought about the inspection and complaints system. Recommendations were drawn up based on what prisoners told the researcher. We will share this research and its recommendations with the Irish Prison Service, the Visiting Committees, the Inspector of Prisons and others to highlight prisoners’ concerns.