THE Northern Echo printed my letter applauding the EU ruling that prisoners must be given the right to vote and CT Riley’s subsequent reply (HAS, May 25).

What most weakens his case is his reference to prisoners not deserving to vote because they are “scum”.

The whole point of allowing prisoners this right, as I said in my letter, is that as well as prison’s purpose being quite properly to punish, its equally important purpose is to reform a prisoner, to teach them how to be decent citizens, to value their rights and realise their associated duties.

If we ignore that training, we convey the message that prisoners have no rights in society and therefore no duty to respect others’ rights.

If prisoners are taught to see themselves as “scum” without rights, they will behave as such when they are released.

Stanley Walinets, Mickleton.