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Top 10 Contributor
Shirack Posted: 28 Jan 2011 11:25 AM

Do we really want a government led by a person who is made physically sick by the thought of prisoners having the vote?

i wondered why I had to wait 6 hours in Cas. the other day.

Top 500 Contributor

I am with the PM re prisoners and voting.

Top 10 Contributor

Dissallusioned SW~ May I ask why? Given that reintegration is seen as beneficial to prisoners and society alike. Surely there is a positive feeling coming out into a world that' in however small a way you feel you had a stake in forming.           Social inclusion is a lot about what goes on in people's heads.

Once people have been sentenced everyone should be looking forward to discharge and setting things up in an optimum way that avoids repeat offending. We all know how difficult that is and every opportunity should be utilised for a positive outcome.

Therefor if we are looking forwards there is no point in adopting a retributive negative stance, which presumably you can only be supportive of in terms of deterrent.  I have never met a recidivist who said to his mate we can't do this or we will be barred from voting. So what other value does it have, other than catching votes from people like yourself?

Top 75 Contributor

for once I agree with Shirack good post

Top 10 Contributor
Female

adarynefoedd:

for once I agree with Shirack good post

Me too :)

 

Top 50 Contributor
Female

spot on shirack

Top 150 Contributor

well said shirack  i to agree

Top 25 Contributor

I'm with...... the PM. However, not the physically sick bit.

Top 10 Contributor

Two people with Dave yet neither have said why. This is not a poll. I would like to understand the other view, please help me.

Top 50 Contributor
Female

http://www.facebook.com/pages/FREE-PRISONER-BEN/281247311070#!/pages/FREE-PRISONER-BEN/281247311070?v=info

this is an interesting case and not the only one probably,i think one of the reasons amongst many is that prisoners should have the vote because if they are to feel that they will become part of  a society they want to invest in  again they need to feel they have a say in it, we have to remember that not all  prisoners are rapists and murderers .........we have enviromental protesters in prison who after all were only trying to make the world a better place, people who have unpaid fines who can't pay because of social circumstances,drug users whom are damaged from neglectful pasts  ......   what i am trying to say is that prisoners are not a homogeneous group..the argument against is like saying all prisoners are evil and could not be trusted with a vote! come one people we have moved on haven't we against the inherently  evil debate haven't we nature v nurture

anyway look at the goverment we have got without letting prisoners have a vote surely they couldnot make things worse !Wink

us social workers are supposed to be advocates for human rights aren't we?

Top 25 Contributor

ladybird:

the argument against is like saying all prisoners are evil and could not be trusted with a vote! come one people we have moved on haven't we against the inherently  evil debate haven't we nature v nurture

Thats a little ott. My arguement is those that are in prison have caused some sort of destruction to society and acted in a way that could have put other peoples rights at risk. In essence they have acted in a way that not acceptable and therefore some liberties need to be taken away. Committing a crime comes with a punishment, for some that means prison. As well as human rights we strive for social justice, and when prisoners have committed a crime that has, in some way, impacted on another individual, in my opinion they deserve not to be able to shape the way in our government work, the rules we obide by, the direction society is taking etc. Obviously these sorts of things are very personal, just refrain from using Human Rights as a loophole for condoning behaviour.

Top 10 Contributor

Andy_Pandy:

ladybird:

the argument against is like saying all prisoners are evil and could not be trusted with a vote! come one people we have moved on haven't we against the inherently  evil debate haven't we nature v nurture

Thats a little ott. My arguement is those that are in prison have caused some sort of destruction to society and acted in a way that could have put other peoples rights at risk. In essence they have acted in a way that not acceptable and therefore some liberties need to be taken away. Committing a crime comes with a punishment, for some that means prison. As well as human rights we strive for social justice, and when prisoners have committed a crime that has, in some way, impacted on another individual, in my opinion they deserve not to be able to shape the way in our government work, the rules we obide by, the direction society is taking etc. Obviously these sorts of things are very personal, just refrain from using Human Rights as a loophole for condoning behaviour.

Really Andy, when you say deserve, you are looking backwards. As SWs working with offenders the only concern should be what's best for society and this must  surely mean maximising the chances of that offender not offending again. Any other response is retribution led and therefor not constructive. As I said loss of vote would deter no one so why alienate the offender further and enlarge the chip on their shoulder. It does involve higher thinking but that's what we are about isn't it. Stop thinking like a victim and start thinking like a pragmatist.

 

Top 25 Contributor

Must admit, I have never worked in criminal justice, so it is difficult to understand those issues. But surely, we must balance rights and responsibilities.... you dont act responsibly then rights are taken away. I don't think my mind will be changed on this, but i'm open to challenge. On a more political note, if not voting is causing such a chip on offenders shoulder, surely it is having its desired effect? They are thinking about the consequences of their actions? Learning to value freedom? I don't know.

Top 10 Contributor

Andy_Pandy:

Must admit, I have never worked in criminal justice, so it is difficult to understand those issues. But surely, we must balance rights and responsibilities.... you dont act responsibly then rights are taken away. I don't think my mind will be changed on this, but i'm open to challenge. On a more political note, if not voting is causing such a chip on offenders shoulder, surely it is having its desired effect? They are thinking about the consequences of their actions? Learning to value freedom? I don't know.

If, as I trust, you agree with me, deprivation of voting rights is not a deterrent and lets face it a lot don't give a damn about who their MP is; then it is just punishment V encouragement. If you became a dad which method would you employ?

You don't have to have worked in the CJ system to understand this.

 

Top 25 Contributor

hmmmm I shall have to think about that some more... good question.

 
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