Tosú (the organisation formerly known as IASIO) launch website and new strategy
Tosú, the organisation formerly known as Irish Association for Social Inclusion Opportunities (IASIO), have launched their new website and strategy 'New beginnings for people with convictions in Ireland'. Click here to view the new website and here to view the strategy.
CALL FOR PAPERS: 16th North/South Irish Criminology Conference, Criminology in Polarised Times: Navigating the Future, Maynooth University, 23rd to 25th June 2025
Maynooth University is delighted to host the 16th Irish North/South Criminology Conference. The theme of this year's conference is: Criminology in Polarised Times: Navigating the Future
No one can deny the increased visibility of the far right across the island in recent years. In 2023 this culminated in rioting in Dublin, the worst in modern history, followed in 2024 by anti-migrant violence in Belfast, bringing loyalists and a minority of Irish nationalists together for the first time. Against this background, and a global context increasingly dominated by various iterations of the radical right, the conference will ask important questions about the implications of these new political alliances for criminological research. The conference will feature plenaries and keynotes from academics in criminology and other disciplines on the messaging and strategies pursued by the far right, the role played by crime and security issues, and how we should best interpret and respond to this phenomenon.
While multidisciplinary submissions that align with the overarching conference focus are particularly welcome, we are open to receiving papers, posters, symposia and roundtable proposals on a wide range of criminological themes.
Further details on speakers, travel and accommodation are available on the conference website. Please note that there will be no fee for conference registration. Any queries can be directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Please submit abstract here for consideration. Final deadline for submission of abstracts: Tuesday 22nd April 2025. Acceptance will be communicated in May.
The History of the Office of the DPP: 1975-2025
A new book titled The History of the Office of the DPP: 1975-2025, written by legal history Dr Niamh Howlin of UCD Sutherland School of Law, has been published to mark the 50th anniversary of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Click here to access the book.
An Garda Síochána Monthly Report for February 2025 to the Policing Authority
The February 2025 report covers the latest Garda Trainee recruitment campaign, the Juvenile Protocol for rape and murder cases, the deportation of 32 people to Georgia among other items. You can access the full report here.
Garda Síochána Inspectorate report “Domestic Abuse: An inspection of the Garda Síochána's approach to prevention, protection, prosecution and victim support”
The Garda Inspectorate’s has published a report on 'Domestic Abuse: An inspection of the Garda Síochána's approach to prevention, protection, prosecution and victim support'. To support the Garda Síochána to improve how it deals with domestic abuse, the Inspectorate has made 52 recommendations which include the following areas: improve victims’ experience and better assess and manage risk; put a stronger focus on proactively managing and disrupting offenders; ensure the Garda Síochána consistently applies its investigation allocation policy so that more serious cases are dealt with by specialist members and put in place greater scrutiny of arrests, detections and court outcomes; develop greater collaboration with statutory and non-statutory bodies; put in place a structured two-way stakeholder engagement; develop a garda domestic abuse strategy, stronger internal governance and accountability, and an updated domestic abuse policy that includes how domestic abuse involving garda personnel will be dealt with; and develop a more consistent and cohesive divisional model to deal with domestic abuse. You can access the report here.
Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee - District Court Research
The Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee (SGIC) of the Judicial Council has prepared a paper which outlines the various community-based sanctions which are available to judges, with particular reference to the District Court. Click here to download.
Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee - District Court Research
The Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee contracted Dr Niamh Maguire, South East Technological University, to carry out research relating to sentencing in the District Court, and in particular in cases of Relationship Violence and Abuse. The SGIC is please to publish this research, which also identifies District Court Judges’ views on the sentencing process in the District Court. Click here to download.
Irish Prison Service 2023 Annual Report
The Irish Prison Service today published its 2023 Annual Report. The report highlights significant advancements in rehabilitation, safety, and dignity, while outlining the Irish Prison Service’s response to a rising prison population and the ongoing need for infrastructure expansion. In 2023, the number of committals to prison increased by 12.7% (+895) compared to the previous year. This, coupled with the increasing length of sentences, has had a considerable impact on prison capacity. Click here to view press release and report.
Restorative Justice Services’ 2023 Annual Report
The Restorative Justice Services published its 2023 Annual Report, providing insights into how the organisation delivered restorative services. Click here to download the full annual report.
2024 ACJRD Annual Conference Report available to download
The report from the 27th ACJRD Annual Conference: Continuing the Conversation – The Future of Drug Policy in Ireland, is now available to download. Please click here to download.
ACJRD Newsletter and notice submissions
If you have submissions relevant for distribution to personnel working in or associated professionally with the criminal justice system, please send them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will consider them for our next newsletter and notices.
Also, we sometimes receive submissions at short notice for events, vacancies and opportunities, so be sure to keep an eye on our News section so you don’t miss these.