Assessing Inmate and Community Risks

Based on the principles of the forensic risk assessment, discuss the risks not only to the inmate, but the community at large.

APA.

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Based on the principles of the forensic risk assessment, the risks that are present to the inmate, are that they are at risk of being a victim of retaliation, which means that they become high risk of assault. This may be for a number of reasons. One may be that a fellow inmate really appreciated a teacher, and held these individuals close to their hearts (much like when prisoners find out about fellow inmates who engaged in child abuse; things don’t usually end up going very well for them).

Assessing Inmate and Community Risks

A risk to the community is that if the inmate was released, then they have every opportunity to kill again; especially since this fellow has no remorse for what he did. ,To release him into the public again would be negligent on the part of the criminal justice system, because at that point, you might as well just give him license to commit atrocities again.

Explain how the AP-LS Specialty Guidelinesfor Forensic Psychology and APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct pertain to the issue of the death penalty. How does this affect the forensic psychology professional’s assessment? (Consider the concept of nonmaleficence).

Assessing Inmate and Community Risks

The above mentioned guidelines, principles, and code of conduct all work together because as forensic psychological professionals, we are still required to maintain professionalism, tact, and respect for the individual as a human being (American Psychological Association, 2011). Despite what this inmate did, and despite the fact that he is indeed on death row, we as psychological professionals need to keep our heads about us, and remember that we are to remain unbiased, respectful, and to be mindful of our role in this case (American Psychological Association, 2010). It is so very important – especially in the role of a forensic psychological professional – to remain exactly that. Yes, the young man did something horrible. But he is still a human being, and while he is under our care, he is to be treated as a human being.