Stand up for convicts, if you want to be fair
Civil libertarians who oppose the database state pick and choose which innocent people they are brave enough to defend
Although David Aaronovitch is writing about the DNA database. In my view, at least part of it, can equally apply to convicted prisoners and their human right to vote.
I note the European Court of Human Rights applied the same principles in this case as it did in Hirst v UK(No2) the Prisoners Votes Case: “blanket and indiscriminate”, a “disproportionate interference” and “unnecessary in a democratic society”.
"A just society would surely regard it as “proportionate” to treat everyone in the same way. The civil libertarians must know this, but are not prepared to defend the unpopular - convicts - from such unique treatment. They are, in that sense, cowards".
Equally, this could apply to the Parole Board where parole is denied not on the index offence but on what the Parole Board thinks the prisoner may commit in the future. "Some of our judges have long believed that treating the convicted as though they were automatically more guilty of a future offence than the unconvicted, was unsustainable".
A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour. Once described as "The Devilish Advocate" (Guardian), I do have the ability to provoke a response. Sometimes it comes from someone who uses a thought process, and sometimes from jerks usually associated with the knee.
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1 comment:
John, I must agree with a prisoner's right to vote BUT as a general election is held every 5 years (max) then I feel it appropriate that any short term prisoner or longer term one, who will be released within 5 years should have a right to vote as they will become a member of the society ruled by whatever party is in power. For those incarcerated for longer and will not benefit from freedom then no, I do not think the ability to vote is reasonable at all.
When you consider those in jail who will serve a sentence of less than 5 years (probably a majority of prisoners) then I feel it is only right and fair that they are allowed to vote.
So I certainly do agree with you as such but with sensible strings attached.
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