Record numbers jailed over fines
Monday, 9 November 2009 15:37
The number of people jailed for not paying fines is set to double by the end of the year.
Figures from the Department of Justice show that some 4,000 people are facing prison in 2009 for the non-payment of fines imposed as punishment for minor criminal offences.
In 2006, 1,089 people were jailed for not paying fines, which increased marginally to 1,335 in 2007.
In 2008, however, the numbers jailed almost doubled to 2,520.
The trend continued so far this year with 1,879 committals in the first six months alone.
Most of the people who are jailed at present for the non-payment of fines are imprisoned for a very short period, sometimes just 24 hours.
The high rate of committal comes at a time of record prison overcrowding.
Noeleen Blackwell of the Free Legal Advice Centre is critical of a system that sends a person to prison for owing as little as €100.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland she said: 'Any new legislation should take into account the capacity of a person to pay.'
