Human Rights and Prisoners

[sunflower]

I've just seen this news

A group of prisoners in Scotland are undertaking legal action to prevent the Scottish Parliament election from taking place as prisoners are not allowed to vote. Three civil court judges have issued a declaration that the blanket ban on prisoners voting is incompatible with their human rights.

 

[Super_Kat]

But by breaking the law and getting thrown in prison don't they get stripped of their human rights as a part of the punishment?

 

[burtie]

If voting is a right not a privalge, why not let anyone vote including under 18s, any illegals and anyone else I may of forgotton.

Lets just hope they don't win.

Mind you the vast majority of people entitled to vote don't bother so it's all abit of joke anyway.

And yes I make a point to vote in every election, even if just to deface my slip because I didn't like any of the candidates!

 

[Puppy]

[ QUOTE ]
But by breaking the law and getting thrown in prison don't they get stripped of their human rights as a part of the punishment?

[/ QUOTE ]

Nope!

 

[emma69]

They have proven that they are incapable of living within the bounds of society's rules, therefore they should not have the priviledge of having their say in how the future laws are made. As a halfway perhaps, only those who were registered to vote before their incarceration should be allowed to vote?

Do prisons pay council tax for their prisoners?

 

[emma69]

Another thought - do prisoners who have a tv in their cell pay a licence fee for it? Because I am pretty sure a prison is comparable to a student hall of residence, and each person has to have one, as they do not come under a common domicile rule (apparently) such as a family would

 

[Tia]

Ach let them vote!! Wouldn't make much difference to the shambles the country is in anyway!

 

[Onyxia]

Oh FFS!
Most of the things we take for granted as our rights are the privalge of living in a civalised country.
If you decide to break the laws of that country you lose those them, simple isnt it?

Human rights and the laws to protect them are of course a fantastic thing, but it's misuse is getting bloody stupid.

 

[Kat1e]

emma69- A property owned by someone in prison is exempt from council tax, apparently.

 

[bellgave]

OK its offical we are slowly turning into a completely demented politically correct nanny state. I hope a judge has the sense to stop this rubbish.

 

[sunflower]

Oooohhhh, interesting thought anyone know the answer? In one university flat we were told we all had to have a tv licence if we wanted a tv in our rooms as the doors locked but the year before we only needed one for the flat as the doors to our rooms didn't lock so I would be interested to know the situation for prisons.

 

[emma69]

I would assume their doors lock.....

 

[emma69]

Hmmm, interesting. So I thought the electorol role was tied to council tax (or used to check it was being paid) Ok, sure, let them vote - but make them pay their council tax too....

 

[Tia]

LOL!!!

 

[emma69]

I am feeling a little dry this afternoon! bored out of my brain!! So I've booked a night away, researched ski boots to buy tonight, caught up on the day's news, played online jeopardy.... yup, I am REALLY bored!

 

[Skhosu]

ugh. stupididy

 

[Gingernags]

I'd like to see them split the human right legislation - to a basic and a higher level. If you are in the process of a crime, or serving sentence for a crime - then only basic human rights should be a requirement - that for food, water and excercise necessary for survival. All other "rights" should be suspended for the duration of your sentence until you have paid your debt to society.

I'd also like to see an end to the ridiculous compensation culture that criminals can misuse and again legislation brought in to state if you are in the process of commiting a crime or serving a sentence, you are not entitled to any compensation as a result of your activities. So when a burglar breaks in and gets bitten by your dog - he can't sue you. If he falls off the roof as there is a loose tile - he can't sue you. If he tries to kill himself in prison and the guards save him, he can't sue for it and if he has to go cold turkey from an addiction to an illegal substance, then tough, its illegal you shouldn't have taken it!

I really with I could afford to emigrate, this country has gone soft and lets every law abiding citizen down!

 

[Sooty]

I've a feeling they don't, as it is often cited when university students are told to pay for a tv licence in halls of residence. Interestingly, prisoners also have a larger budget for food per person than schools and hospitals.

 

[HBII]

Sorry but if you have commited a crime and you are bunged in prison you should lose any god damn rights you had IMO

Hb

 

[Sooty]

I thought human rights in prison amounted to being able to serve your sentence with no sexual predation, with food and heating and with some rehabilitation. Since when did prisoners get to vote? I would love to know the percentage of the electorate in Scotland that is made up of convicted criminals!

 

[SusieJane]

[ QUOTE ]
I would love to know the percentage of the electorate in Scotland that is made up of convicted criminals!

[/ QUOTE ]

Well us England-ers don't let crooks have a vote...

... we put them in Government

 

[emma69]

?

 

[WishfulThinker]

I think tha tif u break the law enough to go to prison u invalidade some of ur human rights!! Why should we live by the rules fo them, if they wont live by the rules for us!

Also just sitting here looking at my pay check, and feeling bugged that I am having to pau to keep those vagrants (It ssounds a horrible word so gonna use it) warm, fed, and happy!!

Its around £50,000 a year to keep a prisoner. I earn just under £16,000 year I have to pay for THEM to live!! The probably eat better than me - I spend £200 a month on food/cleaning stuffs/going out! The rest goes on bills etc!

My dad commented the other day that I dont know what its like to be really poor, cos I dont know how to 'PLAY' the system. And its true! If I lost my job I would have no idea how ot get benefits, and to be honest I would be to ashamed and feel like a scrounger if I asked for them!

I never trust the government - pensions, taxes, war! all BAD BAD judgement!

 

[Puppy]

[ QUOTE ]
Its around £50,000 a year to keep a prisoner.

[/ QUOTE ]

May I ask where you got that figure from?

 

[WishfulThinker]

it might have gone up/down, but thats the figure I have here on a hand out from my standard grade modern studies class, but that was 9 years ago.

Well, a bit of looking shows its around £85,000 in northern ireland, and average cost of keeping someone in prison is £37,500 per annum.

The average length of a custodial sentence is 13 months across all offences Based on the annual cost the average cost of a custodial sentence is £40,625.

[Source: Social Exclusion Unit (SEU)]