Gardaí are considering a system used in Britain that targets repeat adult offenders.
The initiative would be part of an attempt to reduce the number of people currently in the Irish prison system.
In Britain, approximately 10% of offenders are responsible for 50% of the overall crime figures.
Senior gardaí believe similar figures probably apply in Ireland and they are looking at how police in England and Wales have gone about dealing with repeat offenders.
If the system were introduced in Ireland, gardaí could be assigned to work closely on individual case studies.
They could co-ordinate help for the person along with other State agencies, to reduce the chance of re-offending.
The system is already used for juvenile offenders in Dublin's north inner city.
