Transcript LAW ENFORCEMENT ETHICS

LAW ENFORCEMENT ETHICS
Means vs Ends Dilemma
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Deonological vs Utilitarian
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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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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
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Ethics in a Democracy
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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
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Forms of Behavior
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Ethical
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Organizational/Political
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Legal
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Sources of Ethics
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Justice
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Law
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Agency Policy
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Sources of Standards
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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
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Why are Ethical Standards an
Issue?
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Social Contract
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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
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Social Contract (cont)
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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
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Police Roles
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Protector
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Crime fighter
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Service provider
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What constitutes a Good
police officer?
Based upon Principles of Justice
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Principles of Justice
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Fairness
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Rule of Law
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Behavior
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Fairness
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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
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Rule of Law
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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
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Behavior
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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
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Why is Ethics Important
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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
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What is Integrity?
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Acting in ways consistent with an ethic
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What is Police Deviance?
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Sex on duty
Sleeping on duty
Drinking/chemical use on duty
Sexual harassment
Quid-pro-quo harassment
Hostile work environment
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What is Police Corruption?
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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
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Rewards
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Personal rewards
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Money
Gifts
Access to power
Organizational rewards
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Promotion
Peer support
Approval of Superiors
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Slippery Slope
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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
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Why are Deviance/Corruption
problems?
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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
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Corruption
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Mooching
Perjury
Prejudice
Shopping
Premeditated Theft
Bribery/Extortion
Shakedowns
Opportunistic Theft
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Corruption of
Authority – Chiseling
Kickbacks
The Fix
Direct Criminal
Activity
Internal Payoffs
Combative
Corruption
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Preventing Corruption
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Positive Leadership
Political Influence
Authority and Responsibility
Policies and Procedures
Internal-Affairs units
Field Associate Programs
Turning
Integrity Testing
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