Forensic is the term used to pass on to matters that relate to both civil and criminal law. Various branches including psychology, a science of behavior, have used it in enacting the law. According to forensic psychology, it is essential for prisoners to have fair treatments while on either probation or parole despite the wrongs they indulged in society. Prisoner rights are numberless, but there are some rights that are considered more essential than others are (AACFP, 2010).
For instance, apart from having access to dietary foods, it is vital for the inmates to have frequent access to psychological assessments. This is because the majority of the inmates end up with psychological problems that may result in unwanted behaviors such as sexual crimes within the enclosed prison.
Inmates also have the right of accessing medical facilities to lower the chances of contracting diseases. In addition, it is also beneficial for the inmates to have access to medication that will help enhance them control their anger while in association with other prisoners (Find Law, 2008).
Inmates held in pending trials due to lack of enough capital to bail themselves have the right of accessing humane facilities. In addition, these inmates have the right of staying unpunished while under custody as they wait for trial. This is because such individuals remain innocent until proven guilty (Lenore & Shapiro 2010).
Prisoners also have the right of being free from inhuman acts, in that, they have the right of not prone to unusual and cruel punishments such as beheading, drawing, and quartering while under custody. Access to some essential facilities such as toilets is part of inmate rights. It is crucial for the inmates to have enough access to the toilet facilities to reduce the chances of disease spread (Althouse et al, 2007).
Despite the well-known rule against sexual harassment, many prisoners suffer from sexual crimes. Hence, in addition to having equality in terms of treatment between men and women under custody, it is also crucial for the inmates to enjoy their right of being free from sexual crimes that may result in diseases and psychological tortures.
The conditions of the prison have to fit the requirements of the inmates; this is because the prisoners have the right of airing views on the conditions they prefer for their treatment. On the other hand, prisoners with disabilities have the right of accessing the appropriate programs while under supervision to better their stay in jail. (American Psychology-Law Society, 2011). It is also crucial for prisoners to have access to medical care and those with mental problems to access mental health care.
References
Althouse, R., Fagan, T., Morgan, R., Reitzel, L., Simpson, M. & Wormth, J. (2007). The rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders: The current landscape and some future directions for correctional psychology. Criminal Justice and Behavior
American Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology (AACFP) standards. (2010). Web.
Find Law: Rights of Inmates. Web.
Lenore, A. & Shapiro, D. (2010). Introduction to Forensic Psychology: Clinical and Social Psychological Perspectives. New York: Springer.
Speciality Guidelines for Forensic Psychology. (2011). Web.