Prisons Officers and the Human Rights Approach to Imprisonment - Essay Example

Name: Course: Tutor: Date: Prisons officers and the Human Rights approach to imprisonment Introduction The Human Rights body has over the years developed a model that is convenient for prison management. These models are in regard to the statues of human rights as far as the treatment of prisoners is concerned. The human rights approach to imprisonment constitutes of policies, objectives and core values that give guidelines on how prisoners ought to be treated. It is apparent that convicted prisoners are people with special needs since their needs mainly lie in behavioral reform. In a bid to address the special issues surrounding the treatment of prisoners the Human rights established a framework that has proved to be beneficial to prisons officers who work in close contact with prisoners. Nevertheless, there exist some obstacles that stand in the way of treating prisoners as recommended by international instruments. It is evident that if prison officers are to uphold the recommended human rights approach of treating prisoners they will need extensive support and training (Ward & Astrid 628-643). This paper seeks to present and incisive and comprehensive report on the human right approach to imprisonment. This report will investigate how prison officers who work in direct contact with the prisoners can benefit from the human rights approach to imprisonment. The reports will also examine the difficulties that stand in the way of prison officers such that they cannot treat prisoners in a way that is recommended by the international instruments. Moreover, this report will discuss the ways in which extensive and support and training can be given to prison officers in order for them to comply with the stipulations of the Human Rights (Andrews 215). Benefits of human rights approach to prison officers According to the stipulations of the Human Rights all prisoners are considered as human beings regardless of the fact that they have lost their liberty rights. Nevertheless, their right to equality and human dignity need to be upheld. The human rights standards of imprisonment further stipulates that all persons deprived of liberty shall be treated with respect and humanity. Penitentiary systems according to the standards of the human rights should treat prisoners with the essential purpose of social rehabilitation and reformation. Prison officers who work in close contact with prisoners undergo numerous challenges as they take part in the behavioral reform process of the convicted prisoners. These officers are given the responsibility of hold prisoners safely and releasing them back to the society when they are reformed. In most cases the functions of prison officers involves carrying out tasks that are extremely stressful and demanding. In the course of conducting these tasks the rights and freedoms of the prison officers are safe guarded by human rights (Graham & Arthur 193). The frame work of human rights instruments such as the Universal Declaration of human rights and the European Prison Rules among many others provides guidelines that help prison officers conduct their duties through practices and policies that are humane, disciplined and lawful. By incorporating such principles in the prisons facilities, their daily conduct is strengthened and the dignity of their profession is upheld. It is worth noting that detained persons do not cease to be humans regardless of the kind of crime that they committed. The court of law decrees that their liberty should be deprived however their humanity should not be forfeited. Human rights standards accentuates to the incumbent prison administrators to exercise humane approaches in dealing with prisoners in order dignify their profession (Alston 12). Human rights regulations on imprisonment provide prison officers with an ethical framework of operating in their various tasks. For instance, these requisites provide a framework of resolving ethnic, individual and social conflicts that could occur in the vicinities of the prison facilities. On certain occasions prison staffs incorporate force to control and guard violent prisoners instruments of physical restraints are at times applicable. Through the guidance of human rights regulations these officers are able to discern the extremes and necessities of incorporating force mechanisms in a manner that is ethical (Coyle 112). Factors hindering the implementation of Human rights directives in prisons Evidently, few prison facilities adhere to the stipulations of the human rights international instruments. The plight of prisoners remains to be one that is characterized by inhumane treatment. As a method of control, prison officers have subjected prisoners to physical and psychological mistreatments thus undermining their human dignity. Most prisons lack effective inspection procedures and avenues whereby prisoners can channel their grievances. Consequently, the viscous cycle of brutality and undignified treatment towards prisoners is extensively witnesses in penitentiary systems. The lack of regard to the human rights approach to imprisonment can be attributed to a number of factors. Key among these factors includes stereotypic beliefs, the lack of training and poor governance policies in prisons among many other factors (Ward & Astrid 628-643). Stereotypic beliefs towards convicted prisoners is one of the factors that stand in the way of prison officers such that they cannot treat prisoners in a manner that is recommended by the human rights international instruments. A number of prison officers believe that once a prisoner is convicted of crime they seize being citizens therefore they do not have any rights and they can be treated in any way. Furthermore, some prison officers hold the belief that prisoners who have committed grievous crimes such as murder, robbery with violence or treason require inhumane treatment in order for them to reform their behaviors. These stereotypic beliefs towards convicted prisoners deter the implementation of human rights approach in the prison systems. Moreover, they counter the human rights requisites that all persons deprived of liberty shall be treated with respect and humanity (Whitfield 201). The lack of optimum training is a key factor that has over the course of time deterred the implementation of human rights requisites. Prison officers who lack adequate training tend to disregard human rights approach to imprisonment. Prison officers are the central characters, who facilitate and contribute greatly to the rehabilitation of offenders (Whitfield 201).It is therefore recommended that they should undergo optimum training. The lack of training contributes to ignorance, some prison officer are to a large extent not ware of human rights approach to imprisonment. Consequently, they maintain the status quo as far as the inhumane treatment of prisoners is concerned. Poor policies in regard to the governance of prisons is a major challenge that stands in the way of prison officers such that they cannot treat prisoners in a manner that is recommended by the human rights international instruments. In penitentiary systems where there are no effective policies that enhance responsibility, transparency, human dignity and ethics, human rights approaches to imprisonment are barely exercised. (Whitfield 201). Moreover, prison facilities that have poor working conditions for prison officers thus exposing them to risks deter the staff from treating prisoners according to the standards of the human rights international instrumentalists. Support and training for Prison Officers In order for prison officers to implement and uphold the human rights approach to imprisonment they require extensive support and training since it is difficult to maintain this approach particularly in times of crisis. The states and the prison administration bodies need to be committed towards the implementation of human right approach to imprisonment. Their commitment towards this approach should form a background of running and offering a constant thread of training to the prison officers. Nevertheless, a more proactive approach should be adopted in reference to training given to the prison officers. The training of prison officers should take into account measures and sanctions that revolve around knowledge on the relevant international instruments such as the human rights Support can be offered to prisons officers by improving their working conditions. For instance prison officers should not be over worked or exposed to risky situations. (Coyle 112). Professional training prior to the recruitment of prison officers is imperative since it provides an impartial understanding on the values and skills that required in the prison management. These training should integrate both theoretical and practical aspects that bear on the tasks of prison officers. Consistent and continuous training enables prison officers to improve and increase their professionalism (Coyle 112).These trainings should be compulsory to all prison officers in order for change to be initiated as far the treatment of prisoners according to the human rights approach is concerned. Additionally, systematic evaluations should be conducted as a measure of ensuring that the outcomes of these training are inherently effective. Conclusion In a bid to address the special issues surrounding the treatment of prisoners the Human rights established a framework that has proved to be beneficial to prisons officers who work in close contact with prisoners. The human rights approach to imprisonment constitutes of policies, objectives and core values that give guidelines on how prisoners ought to be treated. Nevertheless, there exist some obstacles that stand in the way of treating prisoners as recommended by international instruments. Some of these challenges include, stereotypic beliefs, the lack of training and poor governance policies in prisons among many other factors. Evidently, if prison officers are to uphold the recommended human rights approach of treating prisoners they will need extensive support and training. The states and the prison administration bodies must be committed towards the implementation of human right approach to imprisonment. In addition, a more proactive approach should be adopted in the training of prison officers (Alston 12). Works cited Alston, Philip. International Human Rights in Context: Law, Politics, Morals. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 1996, p 12. Andrews, John. Human Rights in Criminal Procedure: A comparative study. UK: Brill publishers. 2000, p 215 Coyle, Andrew. A Human Rights Approach to Prison Management: Handbook for prison staff. UK: Prisons studies press.2002, p 112. Graham John& Arthur Henry. Human Rights in the World: An Introduction to the Study of the International Protection of Human Rights. Manchester: Manchester University Press. 2000, p 193. Ward, Tony & Astrid Birgden. Human rights and correctional clinical practice. Aggression and Violent Behavior Journal 12 (2007) 628–643. Whitfield, Richard. The state of Prisons. London: Routledge publishers. 1991, p 201. Read More