Criminals must get the vote by next year, demands Europe

[MrPinkPanther]

Needless to say I agree with the EU.

The intention with prisoners should always be rehabilitation which comes hand in hand with responsibility, to rehabilitate them you need to give them responsibility such as the vote. For one reason or another these people have been taken out of society but they have every right to have a say in the society that they will one day return to and contribute towards. Also let us remember that the government will affect their daily lives as much as ours if not more so. The government has complete control over the prison system so why shouldn't they have an equal say to us in how its run?

To me voting is a fundamental human right. Crime or no crime you should NEVER infringe on these rights.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Needless to say I agree with the EU.

The intention with prisoners should always be rehabilitation which comes hand in hand with responsibility, to rehabilitate them you need to give them responsibility such as the vote. For one reason or another these people have been taken out of society but they have every right to have a say in the society that they will one day return to and contribute towards. Also let us remember that the government will affect their daily lives as much as ours if not more so. The government has complete control over the prison system so why shouldn't they have an equal say to us in how its run?

To me voting is a fundamental human right. Crime or no crime you should NEVER infringe on these rights.

Because they are in prison because they have done something which is against the law of this country aka committed a crime/multiple crimes, not because they offered to go into prison and change it from the inside - you have worded it as though they are all little angels and have gone into prison in order to make the world a better place using their votes. Of course a government will affect their daily lives, they chose to go to prison by committing a crime therefore they knew their vote would be taken away along with their freedom. I simply do not see how the likes of Ian Huntley have the same rights in your eyes as the parents of murdered Jessica and Holly do. Do you really think a criminal is going to use his or her vote to change this country for the better?

You say its a human right, surely the right to be free is also a human right and by having prisons you are infringing on those rights - so what should we do there then? abolish prisons because it infringes on human rights?

If you commit a crime you knowingly sanction your rights and freedoms.

[alexxxxx]

voting is a right. and rights shouldn't be taken away from people.

[MattFr]

voting is a right. and rights shouldn't be taken away from people.

if someone murders another human, do they deserve any rights?

[HotelUser]

Those who vote should do so with the best interest of their friends, community and their country in mind. Criminals have proven that they do not share these interests. If you have the stupidity to take someone's life, the right to vote should be taken from you.

[alexxxxx]

if someone murders another human, do they deserve any rights?

yes they do.

[Hitman]

x10

I'm not going to bother with a decent reply... it's not going to do anything, let's let the country decay and run into the ground so that mass chaos can run amock. Only then will people open their iron-eyelided eyes.

[MattFr]

yes they do.

*REMOVED*

I'm not sure if you can even justify what you just said.

Edited by Bolt660 (Forum Super Moderator): Please do not post images which contain inappropriate language or avoid the filter.

[dbgtz]

@MattFR - Warned for bad language soon so watch out (I got infracted yesterday for bad language)

Anyway I think it depends on the severity of the offense, say they stole something quite minor and happened to be in prison for a few months and the election takes place, I think that's fair but if they murdered then no, they can go **** themselves.

THIS COUNTRY SUCKS now tbh.

[Fez]

I'm quite surprised that you're all quite taking this like it's next to the act of the Nazis or something. As I've said in practically any thread in this section, this is very subjective. You have to take into account that people are released everyday from prison, not because they've served their term, but new evidence comes to light. Innocent people do get sent to prison, but that's not obviously to say they should get the vote.

I do believe that there must be some form of vote, but not for criminals, and I haven't got a clue how to explain it. I'd say that a percentage of the people who go in come out changed in a better form, rehabilitation and all that jazz, so I don't see why they can't vote.

Tell me if I'm wrong but, even after you've served your prison sentence, you still can't vote? Am I right?