I am an Irish researcher based at the University of California in Irvine, Dept of Criminology, Law & Society. I am conducting the following study on criminal fines in Ireland.
Every year in Ireland thousands of people are committed to prison for the non payment of a criminal fine. In 2012 alone, 8,304 people went to prison for defaulting on a fine. While many of these people spend very little time incarcerated the costs associated with this action far exceed the amount of the fine.
The purpose of this study is to examine the procedures and processes of the criminal fine system, and to understand the impact being imprisoned for the non-payment of a criminal fine may have on an individuals’ perception of the criminal justice system, as well as highlighting areas of the criminal fine process in need of improvement.
If you have received a criminal fine in the Irish courts I am interested in learning about your experience. Please follow the link below and participate in an anonymous online survey about the criminal fine system. Your participation is greatly appreciated.
If you have any questions or would like to contact me for more information I can be reached at sfarrelluci@gmail.com.
Sharon Farrell MA
Dept of Criminology, Law & Society
University of California Irvine
086 663 0207