Unlock Democracy: Prisoners should lose liberty, not rights

Tuesday, 2 November 2010 12:00 AM

Peter Facey, director of Unlock Democracy, comments on the decision to give prisoners the right to vote:

"Unlock Democracy believe voting is a fundamental human right and that despite being incarcerated prisoners remain members of society.

"As well as punishing those convicted of crimes, prison should also offer scope for rehabilitation. Prisoners should lose their liberty, not their rights. If you deny prisoners their democratic voice you will only succeed in further alienating them from the very society you want to reintegrate them into.

"The coalition government deserves congratulations on having made this decision, which the last government ignored for six years. It may not be an instantly popular decision but it is the right one.

"There have been a long line of changes to electoral law over the years, such as granting the vote to Roman Catholics, women, the poor and those under 18. These were immensely controversial reforms at the time that have all now become embedded in our political culture. We believe a change of this nature will also."

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