Pollock Ethics 8e Ch01 5.43.43 Pm

8/13/2019 Pollock Ethics 8e Ch01 5.43.43 Pm

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CHAPTER 1

Morality, Ethics, and HumanBehavior


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Why Study Ethics?

Ethical issues exist in all areas of criminal justice system(from passage of laws to punishment)

Learning how to determine the right thing to doiscritical

Criminal justice professionals have varying degrees ofdiscretion, authority, and power

Criminal justice professionals encounter a multitude of

situations in which they must make choices that affectpeoples lives


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discretion The power and authority to

make a choice between two or moreoptions.

Legislators:in making laws and determining punishment

Police:in enforcing laws

Attorneys and Judges:affecting justice process

Correctional Professionals:affecting offenders lives


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What do crim inal justice professionals

have in common?

power to make decisions

duty to enforce the law

obligation to provide due processandequal protectionfor all

commitment to public service


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The MostCorrupt

Members of

Congress,

2011

Allegations

19 members of congresswere corrupt

14 members violated the law

or engaged in seriousmisconduct

5 lack regarded for rules


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Ethical Demands on Public

Servants(Edwin Delattre) Wisdom

Good character Balanced perception

Integrity (habits of justice, temperance,

courage, compassion, honesty, fortitude, anddisdain for self-pity)


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SOURCE: Adapted from Josephson Institute of Ethics, Preservingthe Public Trust,available through www.josephsoninstitute.org

1. Public Service

Treating the office as a public trust

2. Objective Judgment

Free from conflict of interest3. Accountability

Open decision making

4. Democratic Leadership

Letter/spirit of the law

5. Respectability

Avoiding appearance of impropriety

Principles of Public Service Ethics


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Goals of the study of ethics-Braswell

Become aware of and open to ethical issues

Begin developing critical thinking skills

Become more personally responsible

Understand coercive element of the justicesystem

Develop wholesight (the ability to explore with

ones heart as well as one

s mind)


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Defining Terms

morals The judgment of behavior as right or wrong.

The term moralis often used as an adjective to describea personsactions.

ethics The study and analysis of what constitutes good orbad conduct.

The term ethics is often used as an adjective to refer tobehaviors relating to a profession(Example: Hippocratic

Oath for physicians).

* The two words are often used interchangeably.


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Why Are Certain Behaviors

Considered Criminal?

Public safety is usually the reason given

In other cases, morality is used for

determining which behaviors should be illegal(Examples: Drugs, gambling, prostitution,

and same-sex marriage)

How do legislators use their discretion tobalance the rights of ALL people?


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Same-Sex

Marriage

Example

Currently eight states allow

same-sex marriage How do legislators

determine what the right

thing to dois?

What do you think legislators

should do? Why?

Does your state permit

same-sex marriage?


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Defining Terms

meta-ethics Technical investigation of the meaning of ethicalterms, as well as how ethical statements can be verified.

normative ethics Definition of right conduct and moralduties.

applied ethics Application of ethical principles to specificissues or fields.

professional ethics Examination of the behavior of certainprofessional groups.


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Defining Terms

duties Moral obligations that one must carry out tobe considered ethical.

supererogatory An act that goes beyond duty andis not required to be considered good or moral.

imperfect duties General obligation with nospecific acts.


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SheriffLandon

T. Smith -

2009

Served as sheriff in Noble County,Ohio for 36 years

Convicted of a felony count of

unlawful interest in a public contract

and a misdemeanor count of conflictof interest (for nepotism and using

prisoners to perform labor at his

properties)

How did he fare in the local court ofpublic opinion ?

What ethical violations did he commit?


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values Criteria of desirability, worth, or

importance.

Honesty

Health

Family Financial success

Beauty

What else are values?

Are some more impo rtant than others?


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Example ofAgency

Values:

Core Values

of the OhioState

Highway

Patrol

Honesty

Sense of urgency Attention to detail

Team oriented

Professionalism Adaptability

Self-discipline

Performance driven

Officer Safety


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MichaelVick

2007

Convicted for conspiracy in aninterstate dog-fighting operation

70 dogs involved

Pled guilty and received 21

months in federal prison

After his release, signed by

Philadelphia Eagles

Was his behavior ethical?

Discuss different views


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Inventory ofEthical Issues

Individual or Other Employees

backstabbing and lack of support

gossip

sexual or racial harassment

lying to cover up blame

taking credit for otherswork sexual or racial harassment


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Organization and Employees

sexual or racial harassment by supervisors

discouraging honest criticism or feedback

arbitrary or unfair decisions

inadequate compensation

inadequate training

unrealistic or inappropriate demands

putting employees in unnecessary danger


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CassCounty

Judge

Accused of

SexualHarassment

- 2012

Judge is accused of creating an

uncomfortable work environment for a

female court employee.

Allegations unfolded after judge

expressed negative issues regarding

the victim's performance. The Supreme Court says it legally

could not charge the judge, as he is

an elected official and not an

employee.

What ethics did he violate?


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By the Individual and Organization

work ethic (days work for a days pay)

petty theft of supplies or cash

overtime abusegifts and gratuities

falsifying reports

misuse of sick dayspersonal use of supplies or equipment


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Morality and Behavior

Even when people know what is r ight ,

somet imes they choose to do w rongwhy?

Criminology (learning, role modeling, & biologicalpredisposition)

Psychology

Other fields seek to answer this question

Are people fundamentally good or fundamentallybad?


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ThinkingPoint

Omar Thornton of Connecticut

walked into his employer, Hartford

Distributors, for a hearingconcerning his possible

termination. During the meeting,

Thornton pulled out a pistol and

shot ten of his coworkers, killingeight, before turning the gun on

himself.

What caused Thornton to carry out

th is ho rr i f ic act?

Was he born intr ins ically bad?

Was he a good person that had a

tragic turn o f ci rcumstances that

forced him into a cr iminal act?


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Ethical Issues and Dilemmas

Decriminalization of softdrugs?

Sex-offender registries?

Death penalty?

Mandatory DNA testing?

Three-strikeslegislation?

Racial profiling?

Same-sex marriage?

Abortion?

Use drugs?

Turn in your brother as asex offender?

Vote for the death

penalty as a juror?

Lie to a friend?

Turn in your partner forusing excessive force?

Stop a black driver in anexpensive car?


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Steps for ClarifyingEthical Dilemmas

1. Review all the facts.

2. Identify relevant values and concepts of all

parties.

3. Identify all moral issues of each party.

4. Identify most immediate moral issue facing an

individual.

5. Resolve the dilemma by using an ethical systemor other means of decision making.


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UtahHighway

Patrol

Officer

Accused ofRacial

Profiling

Black grandmother and 2 teenagers

stopped for traffic violation

Driver refused to allow vehicle to be

searched

Officer called K-9 to conduct sniff

When driver asked why officer thought

they were transporting narcotics, he

pointed to his uniform insignias on his

shoulder and said, this makes me

think it

Was the officer acting ethically?

Was his response appropriate?


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Chapter Review

Discretion permeates every phase of the

criminal justice system

The study of ethics is critical for criminal

justice professionals The terms moralsand ethicsboth relate

to standards of behavior

It

s important to be able to identify andresolve ethical issues and dilemmas

Documents

Pollock Ethics 8e Ch01 5.43.43 Pm