ban on prisoners votes

[erictheweary]

It is a symbolic gesture that might help people feel more part of society.

Prisoners are a group of people who have lower than average levels of literacy and educational achievement, higher than average levels of mental illness and more likely to be black or Irish than in the main population and sent there by a court system that is disproportionately more punitive to women than men. I'd suggest that a lot of prisoners are used to social exclusion before they even get inside.Even the current government seems to recognise a bit (albeit with a half baked peer mentoring scheme)that greater inclusion and social skills would help prevent re-offending so why not extend that to a simple gesture of giving them the vote I don't know. Certainly going to prison is about punishment and loss of rights but most prisoners come out again and fairly quickly ( about half serve less than 12 months) so anything that instills a sense of inclusion and responsibility is surely a good thing?

[koneguitarist]

Do the crime, you lose all rights simple really.

[Fretwired]

Do the crime, you lose all rights simple really.

Why? Surely your loss of freedom is punishment enough. If you want to rehabilitate prisoners then you need to integrate them into society, so they should have the vote. It doesn't matter as the UK government will forced into introducing it. Cameron looks such a ****** with his little-Englander act. He'll get his arse well and truly kicked in Brussels this week.

[octatonic]

Prisoners are a group of people who have lower than average levels of literacy and educational achievement, higher than average levels of mental illness and more likely to be black or Irish than in the main population and sent there by a court system that is disproportionately more punitive to women than men. I'd suggest that a lot of prisoners are used to social exclusion before they even get inside.Even the current government seems to recognise a bit (albeit with a half baked peer mentoring scheme)that greater inclusion and social skills would help prevent re-offending so why not extend that to a simple gesture of giving them the vote I don't know. Certainly going to prison is about punishment and loss of rights but most prisoners come out again and fairly quickly ( about half serve less than 12 months) so anything that instills a sense of inclusion and responsibility is surely a good thing?

Yes, I agree with you 100%.
Sorry- did you think I was saying something different?

[erictheweary]

Yes, I agree with you 100%.
Sorry- did you think I was saying something different?

No, I was agreeing with you - forgot a ^ or a This or +1 !

[Sporky_McGuffin]

Do the crime, you lose all rights simple really.

Fortunately that's not actually the case in the UK.

[Vim Fuego]

give em the vote, but as punishment make em watch all the party political broadcasts.

[bochetagrave]

Unfortunately that's not actually the case in the UK.

Fixed that.

[JAYJO]

lets lock ourselves up and maybe then we can all be arsed to vote.

[limbicsystem]

Prisoners are a group of people who have lower than average levels of literacy and educational achievement, higher than average levels of mental illness and more likely to be black or Irish than in the main population and sent there by a court system that is disproportionately more punitive to women than men. I'd suggest that a lot of prisoners are used to social exclusion before they even get inside.Even the current government seems to recognise a bit (albeit with a half baked peer mentoring scheme)that greater inclusion and social skills would help prevent re-offending so why not extend that to a simple gesture of giving them the vote I don't know. Certainly going to prison is about punishment and loss of rights but most prisoners come out again and fairly quickly ( about half serve less than 12 months) so anything that instills a sense of inclusion and responsibility is surely a good thing?

This.


We need an overhaul in how we deal with crime and punishment. A step in the right direction would be to give 'em the vote another would for politicians to actually use the information in the mountains of paper work from the studies on the causes of crime, over the years, to activey reduce crime; instead of demonising the 'criminal' to instill fear in the populace to get votes.

And yes I have been a victim of crime. Been burgled twice and mugged at knife point