This paper presents an argument for the legalization of psychoactive drugs that are currently prohibited by law. Drawing on international drug policy research, the author examines the Irish policy in its historical, medical, social and political context. The legitimacy of current policy is severely undermined by such an examination, and the ineffectiveness of the war suggests that new options must be considered.

Comprehensive overview of the Irish criminal justice system, its current problems and its vision for the future. Collection of essays by major office-holders, experienced practitioners, leading academics, legal scholars, sociologists, psychologists, philosophers and educationalists.

This book examines the increasing retention and use of previous criminal record information, within and beyond the criminal justice system. There remains a misconception that once an offender has served the penalty for an offence, his or her dealings with the law and legal system in relation to that offence is at an end. This book demonstrates that in fact the criminal record lingers and permeates facets of the person's life far beyond the de jure sentence. Criminal records are relied upon by key decision makers at all stages of the formal criminal process, from the police to the judiciary. Convictions can affect areas of policing, bail, trial procedure and sentencing, which the author discusses. Furthermore, with the increasing intensifying of surveillance techniques in the interests of security, ex-offenders are monitored more closely post release and these provisions are explored here. Even beyond the formal criminal justice system, individuals can continue to experience many collateral consequences of a conviction whereby access to employment, travel and licenses (among other areas of social activity) can be limited as a consequence of disclosure requirements. Overall, this book examines the perpetual nature of criminal convictions through the evolution of criminal record use, focussing on the Irish perspective, and also considers the impact from a broader international perspective.

The Law of Evidence in Ireland explores the development of a particular Irish dimension to evidence scholarship, grounded in the constitutional concept of fairness and influenced by the case law of the ECHR. The phenomenon and impact of the non jury Special Criminal Court are considered, as are legislative changes targeting organised crime and sexual offences, as well as developments facilitating forensic testing as part of criminal investigation and evidence, under the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Act 2014. Now in its fourth edition, this text has been updated with new sections including: - A look at judicial consideration of fairness in the pre-trial process in light of a changing societal context and delivery on the accused's right to fair trial, as reflected in analysis of Supreme Court decisions such as JC and Dwyer - The developing concept of transnational fairness in facing the challenge of cooperation in combating crime and instruments such as the European Arrest Warrant reflected in cases such as Celmer - The changing approach of Irish courts to traditional rules including those relating to expert witness testimony, evidence of bad character and prior misconduct, as well as assertions of new headings of privilege The text is of interest to all those working in the Irish legal system, the criminal legal system in particular, as well as to policy makers and those studying more general issues related to matters of trial, adjudication and fact-finding in various contexts.

This study explores the living conditions and quality of life in seven urban local authority housing estates in Ireland. The research team involved paid particular attention to the perspective of the residents in each estate - their views about what made their neighbourhoods good or bad places to live, and what they had to say about their relationships with local service agencies and local authorities in particular.

Irish political life has experienced great turmoil in recent years because of the scale and intricacy of political corruption being uncovered by parliamentary and quasi-judicial inquiries. There is genuine popular amazement and growing cynicism towards the seemingly never-ending wave of scandal and attendant tribunals. To understand political corruption in Ireland, this pamphlet examines the concept within a political-science analytical framework that allows both historical and international comparison. The book challenges the current explanations of political corruption, particularly those that stress a turning away from a political "golden age" in the 1960s "Understanding Political Corruption in Irish Politics" chronicles political scandals in the 1990s, looks at their causes and explains their consequences. It also suggests reform strategies that will reduce the incentives drawing politicians towards corruption and increase the likelihood and expense of being detected.

What are drug courts? Do they work? Why are they so popular? Should countries be expanding them or rolling them back? These are some of the questions this volume attempts to answer. Simultaneously popular and problematic, loved and loathed, drug courts have proven an enduring topic for discussion in international drug policy debates. Starting in Miami in the 1980s and being exported enthusiastically across the world, we now have a range of international case studies to re-examine their effectiveness. Whereas traditional debates tended towards binaries like “do they work?”, this volume attempts to unpick their export and implementation, contextualising their efficacy. Instead of a simple yes or no answer, the book provides key insights into the operation of drug courts in various parts of the world. The case studies range from a relatively successful small-scale model in Australia, to the large and unwieldy business of drug courts in the US, to their failed scale-up in Brazil and the small and institutionally adrift models that have been tried in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The book concludes that although drug courts can be made to work in very specific niche contexts, the singular focus on them as being close to a “silver bullet” obscures the real issues that societies must address, including (but not limited to) a more comprehensive and full-spectrum focus on diverting drug-involved individuals away from the criminal justice system.

Most policymakers see counterinsurgency and counternarcotics policy as two sides of the same coin. Stop the flow of drug money, the logic goes, and the insurgency will wither away. But the conventional wisdom is dangerously wrongheaded, as Vanda Felbab-Brown argues in Shooting Up. Counternarcotics campaigns, particularly those focused on eradication, typically fail to bankrupt belligerent groups that rely on the drug trade for financing. Worse, they actually strengthen insurgents by increasing their legitimacy and popular support. Felbab-Brown, a leading expert on drug interdiction efforts and counterinsurgency, draws on interviews and fieldwork in some of the world's most dangerous regions to explain how belligerent groups have become involved in drug trafficking and related activities, including kidnapping, extortion, and smuggling. Shooting Up shows vividly how powerful guerrilla and terrorist organizations — including Peru's Shining Path, the FARC and the paramilitaries in Colombia, and the Taliban in Afghanistan — have learned to exploit illicit markets. In addition, the author explores the interaction between insurgent groups and illicit economies in frequently overlooked settings, such as Northern Ireland, Turkey, and Burma. While aggressive efforts to suppress the drug trade typically backfire, Shooting Up shows that a laissez-faire policy toward illicit crop cultivation can reduce support for the belligerents and, critically, increase cooperation with government intelligence gathering. When combined with interdiction targeting major traffickers, this strategy gives policymakers a better chance of winning both the war against the insurgents and the war on drugs.

With social and community services coming under increasing pressure as austerity continues, Unfinished Business examines how social policy has operated in Ireland and how it has been affected by consistent government cutbacks. It examines a wide range of issues important to social care students, such as poverty, homelessness, disability, immigrants, mental health and many other issues pertinent to Irish society today. This book: Is the first Irish social policy textbook written for social care studentsPoses important questions about not only social policy approaches but also policy failings, and makes the case for a move towards social policy regulationIs useful to students from other disciplines, such as community work, early childhood studies, nursing, addiction studies and child protection studiesIs written in a clear and accessible style and laid out in a user-friendly manner The book is aimed at undergraduate students in social studies, social science and public administration, and will also prove useful to practitioners who seek to broaden their understanding of social care.