Over 650 former offenders from Westmeath helped reintegrate

 

Over 650 former offenders from Westmeath have received assistance in reintgrating into society, through the Irish Association for the Social Integration of Offenders Ltd (IASIO) since 2000.

Funded by the Probation Service and the Irish Prison Service, formerly known as Business in the Community Ireland, IASIO is a national community-based organisation for adult offenders in the criminal justice system, with a specific focus on alternatives to both offending and re-imprisonment.

This is achieved through the provision of direct services to offenders both in the community and in all Irish prisons.

From 2000-2012, 11,234 former offenders have engaged with the IASIO criminal justice services. Of that, 6,683 people have been placed in employment, education or training. In total, 11,311 placements have been made (some clients have multiple placements e.g. a training course placement and then a job placement).

To date, 10% of all clients have been female.

To carry out its work, IASIO employs 20 Training & Employment officers (TEOs) and 3 Resettlement Support Workers (RSW’s).

The IASIO services are a sustainable means of assisting former offenders, keeping them out of the cycle of crime and preventing recidivism. These services for former offenders are essential to combat the current issue of overcrowding and serve to save money in the long run by keeping people out of the prison system. Additionally, they serve in no small way in making communities safer.