The legal system is far from perfect. People often serve time for crimes they didn't commit, and many who are guilty are guilty of things that are certainly not worthy of death. Voluntary suicide puts the responsibility on the shoulders of the criminal (or so I would argue, at least). Encouraging it in any way would make the state responsible at least in part, and if an innocent inmate were to commit suicide to escape the hellish conditions imposed on them that would be a tragic failing in the system (and though it is one that is surely already present, if voluntary euthanasia were instituted I would want as many checks to at least try to prevent it as are reasonably possible).

Ajax