A review of the criminal justice system is expected to recommend that career criminals and repeat offenders be taken into care by the HSE instead of being sentenced to prison terms.
“Traditional custodial sentencing has generally allowed criminals to hone their skills in the company of experts in their fields,” a Department of Justice source said.
“It has been very successful at this but it is a very expensive system to maintain.”
“It is clear that certain qualities in the HSE’s care system would be very effective at curtailing repeat criminal activity,” he added.
Last Friday, the HSE said 188 children had died in its care in the past ten years.
