AQW 46809/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 21/05/2026
Answered On Date: 28/05/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Justice to detail (i) any engagement she has had with the judiciary, regarding current pressures on the prison population; and (ii) any assessment that has made of the extent to which awareness of prison capacity pressures is reflected in sentencing outcomes.

Answer:

I and officials in my Department engage regularly with the judiciary on a range of issues to ensure that they are fully apprised of high prison population and am confident that they are fully aware of the challenges that presents; however, in such engagement, I am bound to respect the independence and autonomy of the judiciary who make sentencing and remand decisions in accordance with the law, and the facts and evidence presented to the court.