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LAW ENFORCEMENT ETHICS

LAW ENFORCEMENT ETHICS. Means vs Ends Dilemma. is an approach to ethics that focuses on the rightness or wrongness of intentions or motives behind action such as respect for rights, duties, or principles, as opposed to the rightness or wrongness of the consequences of those actions.

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LAW ENFORCEMENT ETHICS

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  1. LAW ENFORCEMENT ETHICS Means vs Ends Dilemma

  2. is an approach to ethics that focuses on the rightness or wrongness of intentions or motives behind action such as respect for rights, duties, or principles, as opposed to the rightness or wrongness of the consequences of those actions the moral worth of an action is determined solely by its contribution to overall utility: that is, its contribution to happiness or pleasure as summed among all persons - the moral worth of an action is determined by its outcome: put simply, the ends justify the means Deonological vs Utilitarian

  3. Ethics in a Democracy • While consequences are important, the basis of a democratic society includes the notion that process is an integral part of a democracy and therefore, the basis for evaluating the behavior is the means not the ends

  4. Forms of Behavior • Ethical • Organizational/Political • Legal

  5. Sources of Ethics • Justice • Law • Agency Policy

  6. Sources of Standards • Law enforcement code of ethics and codes of professional conduct • Organizational standards – established by departments and by state & national commissions • Procedural and substantive laws – established by appeal court rulings and by legislation

  7. Why are Ethical Standards an Issue? • Social Contract • Protection based on control mechanisms that contribute to the maintenance of order in return for surrendingin certain rights • Government collectively represents the society as a whole and appoints agents (police) to enforce the control mechanisms

  8. Social Contract (cont) • Privileges granted to government include permission by the people to develop strictly limited processes and procedures • Society expects that the government will protect citizens, respect the rights of citizens, and appoint agents who have the integrity to protect citizens and adhere to the conditions of the social contract

  9. Police Roles • Protector • Crime fighter • Service provider

  10. What constitutes a Good police officer? Based upon Principles of Justice

  11. Principles of Justice • Fairness • Rule of Law • Behavior

  12. Fairness • Uphold the law regardless of who the offender is and not single out special groups • Cannot use the position to take advantage of people • Must avoid gratuities which could give the appearance of special treatment

  13. Rule of Law • Police are tools of the constitution and are mandated not to go beyond or supplant rule of their own • Not concerned with law breakers, but their own behavior must be within the bounds of law. • Police behavior must conform to the dictates of law and policy

  14. Behavior • Police officers must at all times and all places maintain a high standard of behavior consistent with the position of a public servant • Practice higher standards of behavior in their public and private lives than most other people

  15. Why is Ethics Important • Play an important part of the internal image of police • Play an important part in how the police are perceived by the public • Ensure self-respect in the individual officer • Mutual respect among officers

  16. What is Integrity? • Acting in ways consistent with an ethic

  17. What is Police Deviance? • Sex on duty • Sleeping on duty • Drinking/chemical use on duty • Sexual harassment • Quid-pro-quo harassment • Hostile work environment

  18. What is Police Corruption? • Takes place when an officer receives or is promised significant advantage or reward for: • Doing something he/she is under duty to do any way • Doing something he/she is under duty not to do • Exercising a legitimate discretion for improper reasons • Employing illegal means to achieve approved goals

  19. Rewards • Personal rewards • Money • Gifts • Access to power • Organizational rewards • Promotion • Peer support • Approval of Superiors

  20. Slippery Slope • Process of developing a “moral career” • Passing through various stages of rationalization to more serious misdeeds in a graduated and systematic way • Once a person gets past the first moral crisis, it become less difficult to rationalize new and more unethical behaviors

  21. Why are Deviance/Corruption problems? • Erosion of public service • Falloff of confidence in government competency • Overall lack of public trust and credibility • Constant displays of lying, cheating, theft, etc. create Cynicism and threaten even the strongest code of ethic – especially when carried out by member of the criminal justice system

  22. Mooching Perjury Prejudice Shopping Premeditated Theft Bribery/Extortion Shakedowns Opportunistic Theft Corruption of Authority – Chiseling Kickbacks The Fix Direct Criminal Activity Internal Payoffs Combative Corruption Corruption

  23. Preventing Corruption • Positive Leadership • Political Influence • Authority and Responsibility • Policies and Procedures • Internal-Affairs units • Field Associate Programs • Turning • Integrity Testing

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