News5 mins ago
Prisoners Have the Right To Vote. What's Your Opinion?
Apparently David Cameron is livid with the decision by the European Court of Human Rights which has granted convicted prisoners the right to vote.
What do you guys think about the decision? Should prisoners be able to vote or not?
What do you guys think about the decision? Should prisoners be able to vote or not?
Answers
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by zipppy. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ."Director of the Howard League for Penal Reform, Frances Crook, said:.........One of the hallmarks of citizenship is the right to vote"
I'd say a greater hallmark of citizenship is not breaking the law and being put in prison in the first place!
The person who took this to the European courts claiming it was against his human rights was a guy called john Hirst, who was jailed for manslaughter after killing his landlady with an axe, challenged the ban in Europe.
Did he not think that killing somebody with an axe was maybe causing a issue with their human rights, like the right to live without being killed! John Hirst should have lost all rights to "human rights" when he choose to kill another person.
I'd say a greater hallmark of citizenship is not breaking the law and being put in prison in the first place!
The person who took this to the European courts claiming it was against his human rights was a guy called john Hirst, who was jailed for manslaughter after killing his landlady with an axe, challenged the ban in Europe.
Did he not think that killing somebody with an axe was maybe causing a issue with their human rights, like the right to live without being killed! John Hirst should have lost all rights to "human rights" when he choose to kill another person.
Chuck Fickens is absolutely right - all this pedantry about the rights of convicted criminals is absolute tosh - they have relinquished thier right to vote the moment they are convicted. What is worse is having a bunch of clowns in the ECHR issuing instructions to the UK about the internal governance of its citizens, when there are probably judges sitting there from Latvia, Romania, Poland and so many other obviously more enlightened democracies than us !!
-- answer removed --
I have to confess that I agree with craft1948. I've recently been released from Belmarsh prison in London and so was intrigued by the European Court ruling.
Currently only remand and civil prisoners are provided with the opportunity to cast a vote in our elections which I subscribe to.
A convicted prisoner however relinquishes the priviledge to vote on receipt of his entry to prison because he has violated the laws of our society. This suspension of civic rights (and let's not forget responsibilities) should be accompanied by voting restrictions.
If I'm returned to prison for breaching our societies rules I certainly don't expect to be handed the right to vote. Anyway the issue is certainly stimulating some debate so thanks to everyone who's responded.
Currently only remand and civil prisoners are provided with the opportunity to cast a vote in our elections which I subscribe to.
A convicted prisoner however relinquishes the priviledge to vote on receipt of his entry to prison because he has violated the laws of our society. This suspension of civic rights (and let's not forget responsibilities) should be accompanied by voting restrictions.
If I'm returned to prison for breaching our societies rules I certainly don't expect to be handed the right to vote. Anyway the issue is certainly stimulating some debate so thanks to everyone who's responded.
Related Questions
Sorry, we can't find any related questions. Try using the search bar at the top of the page to search for some keywords, or choose a topic and submit your own question.