IT was good to read Frank Boyes’ sensible comment on the dispute between the Government and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) over voting rights for prisoners (HAS, Oct 29).
There is a simple solution to this problem.
Contrary to popular opinion, a convicted criminal does not forfeit all human rights on being given a prison sentence. He loses, principally, his right to liberty. If other rights, such as the right to vote, are to be taken from him, then this should be part of the sentence imposed by the court.
That way, one would expect that those convicted of serious crimes would lose the right to vote, while those imprisoned for relatively minor offences would not.
The purpose of imprisonment is not just to punish, but also to rehabilitate. This involves persuading convicts that they can become good citizens on their release. As part of this process, it should be possible for prisoners, even those convicted of serious crimes, to apply to have voting rights restored before they leave prison.
Such an arrangement should satisfy both the ECHR and the demands of natural justice.
Pete Winstanley, Durham.
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