Convicted prisoners to get vote

[2shoes]

not sure what I think of this
should they be allowed to vote ??

here is the lovely prisoner that made this happen

shrugs

What he did or didn't do to get banged up makes no difference to whether or not prisoners should get the vote or not.

Ok accidental bold and too many 'not's.

just thought it might be of interest,

Not really.

tough luck then (tongue in cheek emotion)

now now Coalition and 2shoe - behave yourselves

IMO I don't think they should have the right to vote whilst in prison. Many crimes involve some harm to people, so if the criminal has volated the rights of a person and made them a victim, why should their rights be protected?

It would be interesting to see how many prisoners, whatever their crime, would be keen to vote. So many people who have the freedom to do it can't be arsed (not the ones who make a considered decision not to). I do think we take our freedoms for granted. I wonder if prisoners in general would feel differently and feel their vote is important and worthwhile? If they did I think that would be a good thing. However a have a good friend who works in Belmarsh (in the fag kiosk) and I suspect he would wet himself laughing at my naivety.

I reckon all the people who say those in prison who have committed crimes because of "human rights" have never been affected by a serious crime.

Excitychick - thats a nonsense argument though. It's like saying if I infringe on your right to freedom from arbitrary arrest by locking you in my kitchen, that you can then take away my right to freedom of religion and baptise me.

Rights are not conditional.

I was listening to PM (R4) today. Apparently the guy who successfully brought about the human rights claim has actually served his prison sentence, but hasn't been released because he is deemed to be 'not safe to be out'.

And I think it is quite reasonable for people who have served their time to be able to vote. Not being safe to be let out is a different issue IMO.

As as the government have yet to decide which prisoners will be allowed to vote, I am thinking this is the kind of place they'd draw the line.
And having clicked on the link above, I'm quite glad he hasn't been let out.

not sure if this has been mentioned. but if you receive a non-custodial, or a suspended sentence order, you would still be entitled to vote currently.

So..judges and magisrtates are therefore being allowed to determine who is entilted to vote and who isn't. Judciary directly interfering with the democratic process = not gud.

estya - he was released in 2004.

ahh thanks for that Pan - I had googled earlier but couldn't find any confirmation (that wasn't all long legal speak stuff) of it.

That's quite a scary thought that the judiciary is effectively determining who can vote and who can't.

Joe Bloggs who assaulted someone gets a custodial sentence and isn't allowed to vote

John Smith who assaulted someone is given a suspended sentence and is allowed to vote......

I'd rather the judiciary did it than the government. think about it.

I suppose.......

but the argument that most on the thread against the idea have is that they've committed a crime they should lose their right to vote.

Except it doesn't work like that in reality. As you can commit a crime, be caught, and sentenced - but avoid jail and not lose the right to vote. While the next person up in the dock has committed the same type of crime and gets sent to jail.

Both have criminal convictions, both have broken the law, yet one keeps his democratic right and the other doesn't.

of course as well if you are on a release licence, are you allowed to vote then? Yo uare still 'serving a sentence' just serving the last part of it in the community, and open to recall if you transgress the conditions attached.

I am really alarmed at the number of people who are arguing (on other websites, mainly) that the right to vote is a priviledge. Everyone should have a say in who is in government. What would happen if the BNP were to get into power and pass a law saying any black people or black sympathisers should go to jail - should we all lose our vote? OK, that's an extreme example, but I say thank god for the ECHR protecting us against bigots and people who don't know the difference between 'right' and 'reward for thinking the same way as us'.

oops *privilege

But I agree about earning your telly privileges :)

nottirednow - thats putting the cart before the horse though. What are you hoping to achieve through punishment? If it is to reduce offending rate then all those things that you mention should be regualted by the effect hat they have on offending rates. Instead of just picking methods we like we need to decide on the goals and then use whatever methods work best to achieve those goals.