The pains of parole for life sentence prisoners in Ireland: Risk, rehabilitation and re-entry

Abstract

The number of people serving life sentences in Irish prisons has increased substantially in recent years, such that one in nine sentenced prisoners is now serving a life sentence. Critical attention on the release of life sentence prisoners in Ireland has tended to focus on the political and informal nature of parole decision-making. Yet little is known about the experiences of those navigating the release process. This article begins to address the gap by offering a critical reflection on the parole process, focusing on the potential ‘pains’ experienced by life sentence prisoners when seeking parole. The analysis is organised into three themes that broadly fall under the umbrella of risk management: dealing with a serious criminal past, engaging with in-prison rehabilitation services, and reintegrating into society after release from custody. An analysis of this kind is timely given the growing concerns both nationally and internationally regarding the administration of life sentences and the appropriate mechanism of release.