NCJ Number
176657
Date Published
1998
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Since the outbreak of conflict in Northern Ireland, paramilitary groups have conducted violent actions in an effort to police their own communities, and the extent of paramilitary style policing is evaluated.
Abstract
Media representation of so-called punishment shootings by paramilitary groups has been sensational and distorted. Even so, internally directed violence is prevalent in working-class areas where paramilitary support is traditionally strongest. Paramilitary groups often consider offense seriousness in conjunction with the perceived record of an offender, as well as other mitigating factors such as unemployment, social and family background, and alcoholism. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) maintains that its representatives will mediate and consult with community members in an attempt to arrive at more constructive or socially acceptable ways of dealing with crime. If mediation is not successful, the extent of punishment is gauged according to perceived offense seriousness. Contrary to popular belief, punishment beatings and shootings are not new phenomena, and the IRA's approach to "rough justice" is examined in relation to social and political contexts and the desire to avoid alienating public opinion. Data on paramilitary beatings and shootings in Northern Ireland between 1973 and 1996 are appended. 7 references, 1 table, and 1 figure