Idea about inmate rights!! (PLEASE READ AND GIVE YOUR THOUGHTS)

[Morrigan68]

Originally Posted by crzyrussell

I feel that when a person has sucessfully completed his/her sentence the right to vote should be restored. The whole point of prison is behavior modification, a place to remove the offender from society. As such people who are incarerated do not have the same access to information and issues that effect society as a whole. Therefore a incarcerated is going to vote without being reasonably informed about the issues.

Wow, that is probably the best argument on the subject in this whole thread , and I really have to agree with that. I don't know for sure, but I can only assume that there aren't many inmates who pay much attention to politics while incarcerated, so you have a very, very valid point. To vote just for the sake of voting will put the wrong people in office.

I also agree that behavior modification is the supposed desired result, but those of us with a crash course in the prison system know that's not the case unfortunately. I think disenfranchisement is continuing the punishment even after someone has served their time, and their rights should be restored after they have been released.

[Crone]

I believe that the only way we will ever get this to change is through the legislative process. We're going to have to find a legislator or senator - perhaps even a congressman to submit legislation that would permit inmates to vote. Technically, the judges don't rule on whether something is right or wrong but whether the law allows/permits something. Get a small group together from your state, meet with one of the policy makers and see what you can do. Believe me when I tell you that a small group of dedicated people can make a difference. I've seen it done over and over again. Of course if we can get this done in congress as opposed to doing it one state at a time that would be better then the whole country would have to do it.

Someone said "A person is in prison because he/she made the decision to break a law!" This is not an accurate statement because not everyone in prison is there because they broke the law and far too many are there not because they made a DECISION to break the law but rather their crime was brought about due to their mental illness. Hence, that comment doesn't provide a valid argument.

As to waiting for them to complete their sentence, I don't feel like I can agree with that. I would need to hear more justification for why that should be the case before coming to a firm decision. I'm not saying you are wrong. I'm simply saying that you gave no real argument to back up your statement. Many offenders finish their sentences while on parole and sometimes they are on parole for the rest of their lives. If they are contributing to society - working, paying taxes, etc. then by all means they should have a right to vote. In NH offenders can vote once they are released from prison.

Much of what happens in the legislative process affects inmates who are incarcerated. They are being punished but the laws in place or being drafted often directly effect them and what happens to them behind bars, etc.

Could it be that the theory behind the 26th Amendment to the constitution could be applied to this instance in that at that time 18 year olds were being forced to fight and die for their country but unable to vote? It would seem to me that you cannot impose rules/laws that affect people and not provide them with a means to vote on those rules and laws.

[Michigal]

Originally Posted by FriscoLady

I too believe that inmates should have the right to vote. In some states, you are denied the right the vote until you have completed your sentence, in two states you can vote while you are in prison. Vermont and New Hampshire I believe.

As a convicted felon in the state of Virginia I am denied the right to vote for life.

Maine also allows incarcerated felons to vote. In fact, the prisons will help them get their absentee ballots if someone can't pick them up and mail them in to them. And this is the way it should be in all the states.

[AchtungBaby]

Voting is a privilage and should not be wielded lightly. Listen, the laws are set up to keep those who break the laws of our society from making the rules or having the power to elect the officials that will be "softer" on them. We ALL know what's right and wrong. When one of us makes the decision to break the law there are certain rights that this person has to forfeit. I believe that once the convicted offender has paid for their crime that society has demanded of them then they should be given back their right to vote. In my case, the father of my children who is in prison is not earning money or paying taxes. In fact the state is paying for him to live. Not only that, due to having three children I now have no child support, I've become a burden on my fellow tax-payers by needing the help of welfare. Welfare of which I normally would not have needed had he not chosen to break the law. He loves his children, yes. He will probably be a law-abiding citizen who pays his taxes later in life (we hope). But right now he's not. Why should he get to vote? It's a great discussion though with so many well made points on both sides.

[Doc's Sis]

Originally Posted by AchtungBaby

Voting is a privilage and should not be wielded lightly. Listen, the laws are set up to keep those who break the laws of our society from making the rules or having the power to elect the officials that will be "softer" on them. We ALL know what's right and wrong. When one of us makes the decision to break the law there are certain rights that this person has to forfeit. I believe that once the convicted offender has paid for their crime that society has demanded of them then they should be given back their right to vote. In my case, the father of my children who is in prison is not earning money or paying taxes. In fact the state is paying for him to live. Not only that, due to having three children I now have no child support, I've become a burden on my fellow tax-payers by needing the help of welfare. Welfare of which I normally would not have needed had he not chosen to break the law. He loves his children, yes. He will probably be a law-abiding citizen who pays his taxes later in life (we hope). But right now he's not. Why should he get to vote? It's a great discussion though with so many well made points on both sides.

AMEN! Voting is not a right! Prisoners have no rights. It was their choice to do wrong and they lose their privileges.

[Crone]

Voting is a right - a right that has been fought and won several times since the inception of the Constitution. Women won the RIGHT to vote. Blacks won the RIGHT to vote. Voting is a right not a privilege. Prisoners are sent to prison to be punished for the crimes they committed. They should not lose their constitutional right to vote because they made a mistake in judgment.

Just my

[Foxylady101]

Inmates should be allowed to vote for sure. It seems that they have NO rights just because they are incarcerated and that is so unfair.

[Lisaa731]

Its ridiculous that they cannot vote. They are still citizens. The Constitution says that United States Citizens have the right to vote. People in the Gov't have changed, added and manipulated those laws.