Force convicts to vote as a form of rehabilitation

It’s amusing to see idiots who can’t be bothered to vote express outrage at the suggestion that convicts ought to be enfranchised

FIRST POSTED NOVEMBER 12, 2008

Next time you find yourself idling at the lights, and one of those prisoner transport vans pulls up alongside you - you know the ones: scuzzy white paint job, reinforced opaque plastic windows - spare a thought for who's inside. Why not give them a little wave - kindness costs nothing, and they can see you even if you'd prefer it that they remained invisible.

In the prison system these vehicles are called 'sweatboxes', because in clement weather the individual cells become so insufferably hot that the passengers slide about on the plastic benches. As for being transferred - something the Prison Service does utterly capriciously and at a moment's notice - in inmate argot this is being 'ghosted', presumably because it's a spooky sensation getting yanked from somewhere you've been confined for months or years, to then be driven around the British motorways for hour upon hour, able to see - but never interact - with the world of the living.

Predictably, the Tories are already courting this inchoate lumpendemocracy

However, convicted criminals aren't merely deprived of their liberty, their self-respect and their status in the outside world; like any other revenants they're also deprived of the right to vote. This is a state of affairs that's come to the attention of parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights, and they've told the Government that unless legislation is introduced in the next session to enfranchise at least some of its 84,000 prisoners, any subsequent election will be illegal under European law.

It will be amusing - but only a bit - to see how the individual vote, which is so devalued by free Britons that half of them can't be bothered to exercise it, will become an invaluable asset once it's about to be squandered on felonious scum. You can just picture the tabloid headlines screaming: 'Sick Killer Huntley Has His Say!' or some such tosh.

Predictably, the Tories are already courting this inchoate lumpendemocracy, and their shadow justice secretary, Nick Herbert, has said: "Claiming sweeping new entitlements for prisoners is a classic example of over-reaching human rights laws which have lost sight of the importance of balancing responsibilities. Parliament should make these decisions, not European judges."

Actually, I agree with all of that - but I still think most prisoners should get the vote. Law

"I may be a bleeding-heart liberal – but my heart doesn’t especially bleed for criminals"

and order fans, who see prison as part of retributive justice, presumably think that denying prisoners a vote is part of the punishment - somehow I doubt prisoners experience it that way. Apart from the very few, I suspect prisoners are even more indifferent to their enfranchisement than the average Briton. What they do care about is getting out of chokey, which is why a parole system that allows time off for good behaviour is such a key component of sentencing policy.

I may be a bleeding-heart liberal - but my heart doesn't especially bleed for convicted criminals. With violent offenders I take the view that rehabilitation is absolutely essential - not to save them, but to save their future victims should they become recidivists. I agree with Herbert that responsibilities should be balanced with rights - which is why I want inmates to be responsible for

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I'd love to see candidates canvass for votes in prison. It might actually bring about some kind of reform to the prison system if the people we vote into "power" were to see the conditions and treatment of prisoners. The measure of a society is how it treats those at the fringes- prisoners, the very old, the very young, the homeless.

Posted by Ben Whitehouse at 9:41am on November 12, 2008

It's said that a Liberal is only a Liberal until he or she is mugged. It's all very well giving prisoners the vote,but loss of liberty for crime is exactly what it means, It is still a privilege to vote, not a right. Prisoners lost that right. Will Self quite rightly remarks on those who don't vote, but what are the choices in a three party, one political ideology state? Would prisoners voting make any differance? It sounds like PC brainstorming again. I know a lot of criminals and can assure people that public participation through the popular franchise and civil responsibility is not one of their top priorities. Either make voting compulsary or stick with the stagnant 'minus the criminal vote' system.

Posted by James Hunter at 11:44am on November 12, 2008

In days of old anyone convicted of a crime was without the law and not entitled to its protection. If these characters "Inside" do not respect the law and it restrictions why should they now have all of its benefits; the vote being one. This does not mean that support for dependants such as Health and Support Benefits should be withheld though. If the situation is looked at cynically the number of votes that would become available with the change of law as it stands now, would be less than those available in the average constituency. In short is the exercise worth the effort?

Posted by John Stanton at 12:11pm on November 13, 2008

It's so funny to see the views of those who have no doubt had any dealings with prison or prisoners. Prisoners are not a "breed of person", but a complex and varied group of individuals. Some of whom deserve to be "inside", and some of whom do not. These "characters" as John Stanton calls them, might gain a lot by feeling that they are still part of society, even if they are on the fringes. People tend to think that prison is a breeze these days, but nothing comes close to losing your liberty. I think that the exercise would be worth the effort.

Posted by Tayo at 4:29pm on November 13, 2008

I was almost afraid to read this opinion piece for the outrage that it might elicit from me--but I'll keep my feedback calm and reasoned. I am an Officer with a Corrections Department in the U.S. (I have a college degree, and am not a "knuckle-dragging 'prison guard.'") I deal with sex offenders/child molestors. These characters' thinking process is so warped, many believe they are sent away unjustly and that their crimes are "not so bad." (I won't go into detail.) They're minds are warped. They are so wholly without reason. I cannot imagine a world where these "individuals" are given a vote.

Posted by Carrie Boyer at 6:52pm on November 14, 2008