I was pleased that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) had refused to award damages to prisoners for denying them the right to vote but sorry that it affirmed that the UK had breached prisoners’ rights by so doing. The objective of criminal proceedings is to establish justice for victims and protect society.

There seem to be two lines of thought on what the goal of criminal sentencing should be: punishment for the offender or rehabilitation, which means making the offender a functioning member of society.

The rehabilitation of offenders, which assumes that criminal behaviour is caused by some factor, is said to be a key feature of the UK criminal justice system.

Regrettably, we often read reports indicating that prisoners have a cushy lifestyle and they are not being ‘punished’, in the sense of having to endure hardship.

We also read of prisoners, who have apparently been rehabilitated, being released too early and committing heinous crimes, suggesting that review boards can be hoodwinked.

Whatever the reasons for incarcerating prisoners, or the methods adopted in dealing with them, such a situation will have resulted from not acting rationally in accordance with what is expected of them by society.

Until such time that they can demonstrate that they have readapted and are able to make rational decisions, their right to vote should be withheld.

Neil Kelly

Tredcroft Road

Hove