Should people in jail be allowed to vote?
 

That is the big debate in the news here today. In the UK when you are in jail you aren't allowed to vote but the European Comission for Human Rights says that is a violation of their human rights and that the UK should look again at the law and change it.

So...should someone in jail be allowed to vote?

If they are in for a felony, (or whatever equivalent term they may use)... no, misdemeanor, yes.

when they committed their crime they sacrificed their right to the same rights as everyone else

jails now seem to have gyms, internet access, and etc etc.. isn't jail supposed to be a PUNISHMENT?

If your kid does something wrong and you ground them, can they then turn around and say that you're affecting their right to go out and that's not fair so you better let them out?

I mean seriously, I can't believe this is actually a serious topic of debate there. :warning

Criminals should be punished - and as part of that punishment they should definitely lose their right to pick who they want to see in parliament/government. Once they are out and FREE again, then fine - return that right to them since they've served their time - everyone should be given a second chance - but if you get lax on punishment then where is the incentive for people to NOT commit crime?

Ah well - that's my opinion on the subject anyways :2 cents:

I think the UK gov't is saying they could see letting misdameanor prisoners vote but they don't want to let all prisoners vote since that includes those in jail for terrorist charges, etc.

Once you can stop the corruption in the legal houses, The state attorneys office or what ever they call it, then I would say yes. but lots of innocent people go to jail.

No they shouldnt.

yes they should - there are a lot of people in the world who are political prisoners - why shoudlnt they have a right to vote fi they obviously stand behind their conviction enuff to go to jail for it

criminals like muderers and rapists and diddlers - i dunno though .. but i guess really they should still be able to vote
i mean the government are the biggest criminals ANyhow - so why the hell not

yes they should.. I believe in hard time in jail, but if you take their last responsibility away as a part of society/democracy, how can you expect them to follow the rules when you let them out again? Part of being locked up, is learning that you need to fit in to the rest of the world.... know what I'm trying to say? then we can't take that part away... take the gym and the rest away.. but not responsibility

people in prison should be allowed to vote. minus the people in prison for specific crimes like terrorist shit, etc..

Fuck them. They are in jail/prison. They don't deserve a goddamn thing.

Hell yes

most of them didn't get lucky in life and were born poor doing whatever they have to too survive

Please stop living in the 70's Ruth.

Jails are meant to REHABILITATE. No humane person thinks they're meant to PUNISH anyone nowadays.

[/sarcasm]

I agree with what was said though about the more serious crimes giving up their rights, whereas the less serious ones should still have the right to vote. The government that's elected will have an impact on those that re-enter society as free citizens, so they should have a say in the matter. :2 cents:

Mixed emotions for myself.
I know in the states they (prisoners) are used for political reasons already (district size and so on).
I also know they do and should give up assorted rights when they are convicted of a crime, and they often should be restored when released (not always the case). This I do not really have an issue with either.
My main voting concern is that often many prison reform bills I think should have prisoner imput on. Ok this sounds stupid and I know. Hell I am not even sure if I really can explain my thoughts. Everything from harsher sentancing to less rehabilitation. Damn this is so difficult to talk about, hell I blame it on the drug wars and the number of people in jail for possession.

Watch BBC2 now.
Lower class and criminals should all be executed.
I don't believe in "jails".

Hell no... If you are in Jail, you should have no say until you pay your debt back to the public...

But this is just my 2 cents.... What do I know???

Mmmm.. The sentence is a term of incarceration and living within the prison rules imposed - that is "supposed" to be the penalty and not anything else such as "rights to vote" blah.

The day governments focus on real work to do, the less they will be pissing about wasting taxpayers money "decorating" the rights of prisoners.

ECHR have an amazing group of the cream of jurists and would trust them more than any government.

Sounds like typical UK govt bs Sarah and only a matter of time till they save some face and comply. Does anyone really give a damn what a "terrorist" may vote for or not? The number of that category of prisoners is very small and chances are most don't even have voting rights in the UK anyways - whether they are in prison or walking.

Can't see any "terrorist" having a bursting desire to vote for any party in the UK at the moment anyway! :1orglaugh

No they fucking well shouldn't.

Blah... I'm turning less liberal everyday, and I'm also turning more anti Europe... if the conservatives get a proper leader I'll probably vote for them next time.

But seriously if convicted criminals where aloud to vote then it rocks the very foundation of the democratic (ish) legal system we have in all kinds of ways.

yes i think so....and what webby said. i dont think terrorist wouldnt even want any of it anyway...

No, You are in prison because you have commited a crime against the people within your community. Until you have paid your dues to society, you can not have a say as to who is elected to represent the people of that community.

Fair and simple, No?

I would say, when they will be released during the period they are voring on, YES, otherwise NO

Not sure if it's still the case, but the UK used to block the voting rights of anyone who was bankrupt.

An old friend who had just declared bankruptcy for.. around a few mill UK pounds was at a meeting with his bankruptcy trustee and this guy was explaining he needed to remove the Rolex next visit and he would no longer have voting rights.

My friend burst of laughing at the prospect of being without voting rights for .. think seven years. It was the biggest tragedy ever in his life. :winkwink:

His wife said he came home from that meeting and had bought some kitchen shit so he could bake some fresh bread as therapy after that shock :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

I think people in jail for minor crimes such as failure to pay fines or child support, simple possession, etc. should be allowed to vote. Violent criminals who have actually done harm toward society is another matter.

well that's what you get from committing a crime so live with it.

I voted in the 92 presidential election via absentee ballot from jail. lol Thank god it was just a misdemeaner :)