Transcript Document

KU - Criminal Justice Ethics
CJ-340
Unit #6
Unit #6
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Are police officers faced with situations where
extreme force is necessary, even if it may
result in criminal violations?
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Yes or No?
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Please provide 2 different examples so we can
discuss
Ends Justify the Means?
1) Do good ends make actions right? Do
they contribute in part to the rightness of
actions?
2) Should we take ends and consequences
into account in deciding what to do?
3) Are a person’s ends relevant to the quality
of the person’s character and to the praise or
blame the person deserves for specific
actions?
Legal Use of Force
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Only that force that is reasonable and
necessary to…….
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Effect the arrest
Prevent / stop the assault
What is Legal Force?
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The legislators and courts have
consistently stated that:
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Police officers need not retreat because
force is offered.
Police officers are not expected to get
injured
Bottom Line
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If the force the officer is exercising is
illegal, then it is………
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EXCESSIVE FORCE
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There is no justification for excessive force.
Ends Justify the Means?
Have to take consequences into account
-intentions?
-Shouldn’t only take into account
consequences
-Good ends can conflict with each other –
pull us in contrary directions
-Ends to justify means to a point.
Human life is just not so simple!!
Ends Justify the Means?
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Does the scenario of the kidnapped
victim buried alive & the subject
knowing where she is – a justified
scenario for “torture” or “Enhanced
Interrogation” – a term currently under
great debate by the President and our
elected officials.
Noble Cause Corruption
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“Noble cause” corruption – whether
illegal actions that violates rights of
citizens are ever morally right or
excusable?
-Rights of the innocent versus rights of
the suspect (perpetrator)
Noble Cause Corruption
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Three Basic Points
1) Since ends do not necessarily justify
means, a good end cannot justify a means in
the context that makes it wrong and evil.
2) Revising regulations and rules cannot
eliminate tragedy and conflict of ideals
3) Inflicting pain sadistically, with pleasure
and without regret, can never be excused
(use fear rather than pain)
Noble Cause Corruption
Noble Cause Corruption
- Taints us
“I am entirely justified in my means
because my end was noble” or
“I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t,
so it makes no difference”
Arrogance, cowardice
Ramifications
Once we go beyond the law for a noble
purpose, we feel we have committed
ourselves to legal means, as further
extremes become natural.
Deviate from our basic, moral and
fundamental principles
Excusable Wrongdoing
Excusable Wrongdoing
-Should we consider well-intentioned and
remorseful wrongdoing in terrible hard
cases to be excusable?
Dirty Harry Syndrome
Dirty Harry
-We want officers who are morally courageous and
sensitive
-Can’t allow moral outrage to blind us to facts
-No more mark of courage than calling on interrogation
experts and deferring to higher authorities are marks
of cowardice or insensitivity
- Trying to fill purposes of law enforcement within limits
of the law takes as much courage as any other
course
Television & Movies
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Do you think that Movies and/or TV
impact the general publics perceptions
about the use of force by police?
Television & Movies
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Role Models?
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True Reflection of Real Life?
Unethical Police Movies
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Training Day
Prince of the City
Serpico
We Own the Night
Bad Lieutenant
The Changling
Pride & Glory
L.A. Confidential
Untouchables
Unethical Police TV Shows
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NYPD Blue
The Shield
The Beast
The Wire
Unit #6 – Project/Paper
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Scenario Analysis
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Write your paper – after reviewing the
three (3) scenarios listed
Answer the four (4) questions for each of
the 3 scenarios.
It should be a good project for each of you
and help stimulate some good thought
process.
Next Week – Unit #7
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Chapter 15: Fatalism, Microcosms,
and Therapeutic Reductions
&
Chapter 16: Ethical Ideals, Youth
Violence, and Gang Enforcement
Everyone
Have
A
Good
Week!!