Civil Rights in MegaCity One

[Iron Warrior.]

The concept of rights in MC1 is really a joke. Just read "America" to see the extent of people's rights. Dredd believes in rights as long as they don't get in his way. A fetus that is screened and found to have certain genetic dispositions towards rebellion can be aborted without the parent's consent, etc.

In some early Dredd comics torture was illegal, as was the death penalty. Later the justice department had torture cells and openly exterminated a christian religious movement because the judges would not allow anyone to believe in anything greater than the judges. See the "Satan" book for that.

 

[havercake lad]

Civil rights of citizens arrested certainly seem to be generally stronger in recent years of the strips. Probably a development under Volt and Hershey's tenure as Chief Judge.
Look at the length of time and jepordy that elapse in the recent day of chaos story before the interrogating Judges move to using chemicals on a suspect linked to a major terrorist threat to the Mega City.