Importance Of Human Rights In Prisons

US Prisoners Should Have Basic Human Rights

This essay explores the question of whether prisons in the United States of America should be more enforced to grant basic human rights. The following essay will lie out the core aspects of the problem and show why it is essential for America to make sure every inmate held in every prison is given the most basic rights they deserve as people. Before going into the main points, the definition of human rights are given as followed. Human rights are basic rights that people are entitled to regardless of sex, religion, nationality, what language one speaks and their social status. Human rights include civil and political rights, such as the right to life, liberty and freedom of expression;

However, even detained children and youth are not immune from staff brutality and abuse. They too are kicked, beaten, punched, choked, and sexually preyed upon by adult staff. The Maryland State Police recently filed criminal assault charges against staff at a youth facility in Maryland because of an incident in which one guard restrained a youth while three others kicked him and punched him in the face.3 In January 2004, the U.S. Department of Justice reported on terrible conditions at Arizona’s juvenile detentions centers, including sexual abuse of the children by staff members and fellow inmates that occurs “with disturbing frequency”2 and a level of physical abuse that is ”equally disturbing.” One may argue that criminals in prisons are hopeless and even if they didn't spend time in prison being tortured they would still do no good to the society. But these are teenagers, children, and the young generation of America. Given that they are exposed to such inhumane treatment at such a young age, what would become of them when they grow up? The answer is either they become someone who will always be afraid of everything, criminals that gave up completely on their lives, or the most disturbing, psychopaths who mutilate and kill people for

So in the last point in this paper states that improving the prisons can help to improve our nation as a whole. It would create a positive effect on economics. “A year in prison can cost more than a year at Harvard" each U.S. resident is paying about $260 per year on corrections, up from $77 per person4. So what do we get from it? Nothing. Our system doesn't build fit minded workers out of the jail yard so they can pay back to society and live the rest of their lives as normal citizens, our system locks them up and claims that they are given treatment and decent food and hygiene supplies but where does our money really go? Nobody knows. However given that inmates are abused within prisons walls and how they are treated it's highly doubted that all the money we pay for them is actually used on them. If the federal government looks into the case we might be able to end up with improved workforces, decreased taxes and solve corruption in some government branches. Apart from that, the US government should be able to live up to its laws and standards. Inmates have the right to be free from discrimination while imprisoned. This includes racial segregation, disparate treatment based on ethnicity or religion, or preferences based on age, among others5. But, most cases prove that prison guards wouldn't let prisoners pray or practice any religious ceremonies.