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how do Judges deal with breach of community service in Ireland, the replies varied
considerablyas follows:
“The Probation Service… will present to me a schedule of when the order was made and howlong
it was made for and the progress during that particular order and it is significant through that
schedule that they will give me that 3 or 4 times followed by a warning letter, followed by a call to
the house, followed by another warning letter, that they will go to effectively the ends of the earth
before they will take the step to bring the matter to court. To me that suggests that they exercise a
huge discretion but theyget to the point where theysayenough is enough”. A6J1DC
“It depends on the breach. To impose the original sentence it would take a major breach. Very
often they would have a reason whatever it is; my mother is sick or my girlfriend is pregnant or the
child was sick or something like that. If theyare sufficientlywell representedbysomebodyparticularly
articulate, they may well overcome any difficulties they have. It depends upon the circumstances”.
A3J1CC
“The Probation Service seems to be fairlyproactive about doing it…. There haven’t been that many
back. I was just trying to think – 2 or 3 is as much as I have seen back”. A7J1CC
“It depends on how long they have been working at it. If they (probation officer) are new to it,
theyprobablyallowexcessive room to the offender. If theyare at it a long time theystart to get tired
of people who don’t keep their words and don’t do their work and they are faster to bring them
back”. A4J5DC
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“I always give another chance” A4J2DC
“Instant incarceration” A1J7DC