can I use request.getParameter() call in JSP (as well as in a servlet) to get data from HTML form

I have a web application that uses a HTML form with some check boxes
and radio buttons to have user select what data they want to order -
the action in the form is a JSP page and I was using jstl tags in JSP
to get the value(s) of checkobx or radio buttons in calling HTML
code.....
But could I just use request.getParameter() in my JSP to get the
values from the form? I thought request.getParameter() was only for
use in a servlet java code (I know JSPs get compiled into servlets)

??
.