COURSE OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES --Acquire an understanding of the complex

process of moral and ethical decision making when enforcing laws and processing
offenders. --Develop a fundamental framework of analytical skills when examining
ethical situations in the criminal justice system. --Obtain insight into how decision
making impacts not only offenders but also the victims, and society. --Provide
opportunities to examine personal attitudes values, and beliefs in relation to the
crime, the offender, the victim, and the justice system. --Become aware of ethical
issues in criminal justice research.

COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, the student will better:

Understand the importance of ethics in Criminal Justice,
Understand the connection between ethics and the police,
Understand the significance of racial discrimination in the criminal justice system,
Understand the ethical considerations of ethics and the law,
Understand the relationship of ethics and criminal punishment and corrections,
Understand the ethics of policy making,

ByTimothyRoufa

UpdatedOctober12,2016

It'softensaidthatnootherprofessiondemandsahigherethicalstandardthanthatoflaw
enforcement.Regardlessofwhetherornotthereareothercareersthatrequireasimilar
dedicationtodoingtherightthing,itisundeniablethatthereisanunderstandablytremendous
degreeofexpectationsplaceduponpoliceofficers,andrightlyso.

Police Officers Must Live in a Fishbowl

Everyofficerknows,oratleastshouldknowbynow,thattheyliveinafishbowl.

Friends,relatives,neighborsandstrangerswatcheverymovelawenforcementofficersmake,
bothonandoffduty.

Thefactisthatthepublicscrutinizespoliceofficersmorethanmostotherprofessions,either
becausethey'recynicalandhopetocatchthemscrewinguporbecausethey'rehopefulandare
lookingforagoodexampleandastrongleader.Ineithercase,it'suptotheofficertobeabove
reproachinbothhispublicandprivatelife.
In Law Enforcement, a Few Bad Apples Spoil the Reputation of the
Bunch
Dayinanddayout,wereadstoriesofofficerswhodowrong.Theft,excessiveuseofforce,
misuseofpublicoffice,abuseofauthority,andevensimplethingslikespeeding,areall
examplesofunethicalbehavioronthepartofthosethatthepublichasentrustedtoserveand
protectthem.

Itmustbenotedthatthevastmajorityofpoliceofficersaretrulygood,hardworkingand
dedicatedpeoplewhostrivetoservethepublicanddotherightthingateveryturn.

It'sunfortunate,butthegoodworklawenforcementdoesrarelymakesnews,andwhenitdoes,it
doesn'tcarrywithitthesamelongmemorythatbadnewsseemsto.

Decadeslater,westillbemoantheRodneyKingincident,andlawenforcementcontinuestoreel
fromtheperceptionsandimplicationsthatwereleftinitswake.

Lessthanappropriateresponsestoraceriotsandpeacefulprotests,aswellaswidespread
mistreatmentofracialminorities,stillaffectshowofficersapproachtheirjobshalfacentury
later.Moreover,thoseeventshaveservedtowhittledownanderodethepublic'strustintheir
police,makingitthatmuchharderforofficerstodotheirjobs.

Unfortunatethoughitmaybe,asingleuncouthactcommittedbyasingleunprofessionalofficer
canimpacttheentirelawenforcementprofession.Rarelydoesthepublicmakeadistinction
betweenuniforms;attheendoftheday,allpoliceofficerslookandactthesameintheeyesof
theaveragecitizen.That'swhyitissovitallyimportantthateachandeveryofficerdoesher
utmostbesttomaintainandbuildonthetrustthatthepublichasgivenher,insteadof
squanderingitsimplyforthesakeofbravado,greedorselfgratification.

Understanding the Meaning of Ethics and Related Terms

Weoftenusewordslikeethicsandvalues,butforallthetalkofethicsinlawenforcement,it's
importanttoestablishwhatethicsandethicalbehaviorare,andwhattheyaren't.
Suchastrongpushexistswithinthelawenforcementcommunitytoupholdethicalstandards,but
withoutacleardefinitionofterms,suchtalkisfutile.Tostartthediscussion,then,somekey
definitionsareinorder.

What Are Values?

Valuesisthetermgiventothoseideas,behaviors,andactionsthatareimportanttous.Values
arethosethingsworthfightingfor,andthosethingsworthsacrificingfor.They'rewhatwehold
mostdear.Ourvaluesstronglyinfluenceourdecisionmakingandhelpdeterminewherewe
placeouremphasisinourpersonalandprofessionallives.Valuesformthebasisforour
understandingofethics.

Withinsociety,wehavepersonalvaluesandsocietalvalues.Ourpersonalvaluesareoursalone
andareinformedbyourupbringing,culturalandethnicbackground,religiousbeliefsand
personalexperiences.Becausepersonalvaluesareuniquetoeachindividual,theyaregenerally
notaproperplatformonwhichtobaseprofessionalethics,thoughtheymayinformhowwe
view,appreciateandapproachethicalbehavior.

Therearesomevalues,though,thatareessentiallyuniversallyheldbyasociety.Thesesocietal
valuesarethoseidealsthatareheldmostdearbyacultureorgroup,andthesearethevalues
fromwhichwederiveourunderstandingandexpectationofethicsandethicalbehavior.Such
idealsinclude:

Integrity

Honesty

Hardwork

Kindness

Compassion

Empathy
 Sympathy

Justice

Bravery

Theseideals,thesesocalleduniversalvalues,helpguideustowardethicalbehaviorandethical
decisionmaking.Theyhelpinformusofwhatisexpectedofusandwhatactionsweshouldtake.

What Are Ethics?

Ethicsis,inessence,doingtherightthing,whateverthatmaybe.The"rightthing"isbasedon
thosevaluessocietyholdsdear.Ethicalprinciplesarepremisedonthenotionthatrightisalways
rightandwrongisalwayswrong.

Whenofficersfailtodowhatisright,andespeciallywhentheydowhatisclearlyandblatantly
wrong,theyerodethepublictrustjustalittlemoreandfurtherdegradelawenforcement'sability
toworkwithinthecommunityandcarryoutitsmission.Adherencetohighethicalstandards,
then,isasvitaltoachievingtheoverallgoalofmodernpolicingasanyothertactic,techniqueor
practice.

Promoting Ethics and Ethical Behavior in Law Enforcement

Theimportanceofahighethicalstandardinpoliceworkisimpresseduponaspiringofficers
fromtheveryfirstdaysofthepoliceacademy.Agencieshaveseveralwaystopromoteethics
amongtheirranks.Firstandforemostistheoathofofficethatofficerstake.

The Law Enforcement Oath of Office

Ofcourse,theoathcontainsprovisionsaboutprotecting,upholdinganddefendingthe
ConstitutionoftheUnitedStates.Alsocontainedintheoath,though,arepromisestoconduct
oneselfsoberly,honestlyandhonorably,toavoidoffensivebehaviorandtoobeysuperior
officerswithintheindividualdepartments.
Inessence,officerssweartobehonest,upstandingcitizens.Theypromisetobepartofthe
solution,notpartoftheproblem,andaboveallelse,theypromisetofollowtherules,whether
theylikeoragreewiththemornot.

Understoodwithintheconceptofactinghonorablyistheideathatofficersshouldownuptotheir
mistakes.Farmorerespectisreservedforthosewhoscrewupandadmititthanthosewhotryto
hidetheirmisdeedsorblameothersfortheirownshortcomings.Infact,itisanoftrepeated
mantrathat,inlawenforcementcareers,lyingwillgetonefiredfasterthananythingelse.

The Law Enforcement Code of Ethics

Theoathofofficelaysthegroundworkforinstillingethicalbehavior,butitdoesn'tstopthere.To
helpguideofficerstowardethicaldecisionmaking,mostagenciescodifythosepracticesthat
theyhopetopromoteandthosetheyexpectofficerstoavoid.

Withinanagency'scodeofethicsarespecificprovisionspromotingthesafeguardingoflivesand
property,theimportanceofavoidingbiasandtheunderstandingthatthebadgeisasymbolofthe
publictrust.

Inshort,thecodeofethicsrequiresthatofficersarenotonlypreparedtoenforcethelawbutto
followit.Theyarecalledtobeexamplestothepublicandtodemonstratetherightwayto
behave,ratherthantheentitlementmentalitytheyaresooftenaccusedofexhibiting.

Representing the Badge

Animportantthingforofficerstorememberisthatwhattheydoinuniformaffectsnotonly
themselvesasindividuals,buttheirentireagencyand,perhaps,theentireprofession.

Allofthisiswellandgood,buthowdoofficersapplythiscodetotheireverydayprofessional
lives?Theshortandeasyansweris"dotherightthing."Becauseethicsarebaseduponsocietal
values,itisnotdifficulttodiscernthedifferencebetweenrightandwronginnearlyany
situation.
Ethical Decision Making for Police Officers
Forthosesituationsthatmayprovedifficultforofficers,severaltestscanbeappliedtohelpin
theethicaldecisionmakingprocess.Perhapsthebestknownethicaldecisionmakingtestsarethe
criticalthinkingtest,themediatest,andtheguttest.

Critical Thinking Test

TheCriticalThinkingTestasksaseriesof"yes"or"no"questionstodeterminewhetherornot
anofficershouldproceedwithanaction.Thesequestionsareaskedinsuccessionandultimately
guideanofficertowardmakingagoodchoice.Thesequestionsask:

Ismyactionlegal?

Willtheendresultbegood?

Willitwork?

Isthereabetter,lessharmfulwaytoachievethesamegoal?

Willmydecisionundermineorcontradictanotherequallyimportantprinciple?

Eveniftheendresultisgood,dothemeansviolateanethicalprinciple?

Canmydecisionbejustifiedifitismadepublic?

Media Test
Asimilarbutsimplertool,theMediaTestrequiresanofficertoansweronesimplequestion:
"HowwouldIfeelifmydecisionmadethefrontpagetomorrow?"Thisremindsofficersthatall
toooften,perceptionbecomesrealityandthatitmaynotbeenoughjusttobeabletojustifyour
actionsiftheycausethepublictoseriouslyquestionpolicepracticesandtactics.

TheMediaTestrecognizesthatthepublicdoesnotalwaysseethingsthesamewaythelaw
enforcementcommunitydoes.Ittakesintoconsiderationthat,becausepoliceofficersare
ultimatelypublicservants,theymustbecognizantofwhatthepublic'sperceptionsareregarding
policebothonandoffthejob.
Gut Test
PerhapsthesimplesttestofallistheGutTest.Theguttestessentiallyreliesoninstinctandthe
beliefthat,deepdown,allofficerscanintuittherightdecision.Essentially,theGutTestrelieson
theprinciplethatifitfeelswrong,itprobablyiswrong.Thisisnottobeconfusedwiththe
differencebetweenfeelinggoodandbad,butbetweenrightandwrong.Thereareplentyoftimes
thatthingsthatfeelbadareright,andthingsthatfeelgoodarewrong.

Police Officers Are Sworn To Protect and Serve

Whetheronechoosestouseatestortotrusthisgut,thefactremainsthatethicalbehaviorand
practicesareattheforefrontofthelawenforcementprofession.Itisabsolutelyvitalthatevery
officerremembersthereasonshetookthejobinthefirstplace:toprotectandtoserve.

Law Enforcement Jobs Are About Working to Make a Difference

Policemustworktogethertobetheofficersthatthepublicdemandsandexpectsthemtobe.
Theymustleadbyexampleinsteadofsettingabadexample,andtheymustmakethehard
choicestodotherightthingundereverycircumstance.Onlyinthiswaywillofficersbeable
toprovidethelevelofservicetheircommunitiesdeserveandtoreallybegintheworkofmaking
adifferenceinthelivesofothers.

GoalofLawEnforcementinUsesofControl

Mostoften,whenmembersofthepublicquestionanofficer'suseofforce,theyfirst
questionwhetherforcewasnecessaryinthefirstplace.Likewise,courtstendtofocus
firstonwhetherornotanyforcewasjustifiedatallbeforebroachingthetopicof
excessiveforce.

Tolookatthisquestionproperly,wemustfirstunderstandtheultimategoalofofficers
whentheyapplyforce.Generally,thepurposeistoeffectanarrestandbringapotentially
dangeroussituationtoasquickandpeacefulaconclusionaspossible,withoutinjuring
theofficerorinnocentmembersofthepublic.

Obviously,thepreferredoutcomewouldbeforaresistingsubjecttoallowhimselftobe
arrestedpeacefully.Whenthatdoesn'toccur,though,officersmustmakeaquick,split
seconddecisionwhetherornottoemployforceandjustwhatforcetoemploy.During
thatdecisionmakingprocess,thewellbeingofthesuspectismostoftenasecondary
concern.

ObjectiveReasonableness

Becausethesedecisionsmustbemadequickly,officersmaynothaveallofthe
informationregardingthelevelofthreatasubjectactuallyposesbeforetheyfeelthatthey
musttakeaction.InGrahamvs.Connor,theU.S.SupremeCourtestablishedthe
"objectivereasonablenessstandard"todeterminewhetherornotforcewasjustified.

Objectivereasonablenesssimplyaskswhetherornotareasonablepersonwiththesimilar
training,knowledgeandexperiencewouldhaveactedthesameundersimilar
circumstances.Inmakingthisdetermination,threefactorsareapplied:whetherornotthe
subjectposesanimmediatethreat,theseverityoftheallegedcrime,andwhetherornot
thesubjectisattemptingtofleeorresistarrestattempts.Implicitinthesocalled"Graham
factors"isthequestionofwhetherornottheofficerwasjustifiedinexercisinghisarrest
authoritytobeginwith.

Mostimportantly,theobjectivereasonablenessstandardrecognizesthatofficersmust
thinkfastandactfast.Underthesecircumstances,thefactsavailabletotheofficeratthe
timeshemadeherdecisiontouseforcearewhattheofficerisjudgedby,asopposedto
whatmaycometolightafterthefact.

Forexample,ifanofficershootsasubjectwhoisthreateninghimandpointingagunat
him,itdoesnotmatterifitturnsoutlaterthatthegunwasnotloaded.Iftheofficercan
articulatethatatthetimeoftheincidenthebelievedhislifeorthelifeofsomeoneelse
wasindanger,thenhewillhavebeenjustifiedinhisuseofdeadlyforce.

JusttheFacts

Ifanofficerlearnsafterthefactthatwhatheperceivedtobeaweaponwasactuallyatoy
gun,acellphone,orevenawallet,thestandardbywhichtheactionwillbejudgedwill
comefromwhattheofficerknewatthetime.Officersneednot,andoftentimescannot
affordto,waitforasubjecttopullthetriggerortrytostabthembeforetheyreact.
Instead,theymustweighthetotalityofthecircumstancesandmakeadecisionbasedon
thefactsavailabletothematthemoment.

ReasonableChoices

Theobjectivereasonablenessstandardalsoestablishesthatofficersarenotnecessarily
limitedtotheleastamountofforcepossible.Rather,officersarecalledtouseonlythat
forcewhichfallswithintherangeofwhatmightbeconsideredreasonable.Thisisan
importantdistinctiontomakebecause,asanyofficerknows,inmostsituationsthereisa
rangeofforceoptionsavailable,allofwhichmaybeanappropriateresponse.

Forexample,ifasubjectisfightingandresistingarrest,anofficermaychoosetouse
pepperspray,anelectroniccontroldevice,orhandsoncontroltechniquessuchasjoint
manipulationinordertogaincompliance.Anyoneofthesechoicesmaybereasonable,
thoughthepublicmayperceivethetaserorpepperspraytobemoreinvasiveandless
necessarythangoinghandson.Anofficer'sactions,then,arenotevaluatedbasedupon
whatshecouldhavedonedifferently,butrathertheyareassessedbasedonwhatmightbe
consideredreasonable.

JudgingDeadlyForceSituations

Thisstandardbecomesespeciallyimportantwhenlookingatinstancesofdeadlyforceby
policeofficers.Byandlarge,officersaretaughtatthepoliceacademytomeetdeadly
forcewithdeadlyforce.Theyaretrainedandgiventhetechniquesandtacticstomake
suretheymakeithomeattheendoftheirshift,andtheyspendextensivetimetrainingin
theuseoffirearms.

It'simportanttorecognizethat,whendiscussingtheuseofdeadlyforcebyofficers,the
expectedresultofasubject'sactionsdon'thavetobedeath.Instead,deadlyforceis
describedasactionsthatarelikelytocauseeitherdeathorgreatbodilyharm,which
couldincludepermanentdisfigurementwithoutcausingdeath.

Thetypeofweaponusedisanimportantfactorinanofficer'sdecisiontousedeadly
force,butitisnottheonlyfactor.Toapoliceofficer,deadlyforceisdeadlyforce,
whetherthesubjectiswieldingaknife,anax,agunorevenabaseballbat.Allofthese
havethepotentialtotakealifeorcausegreatbodilyharm.Instead,tobejustifiedin
employingdeadlyforce,officersmustbeabletoarticulatethatthesuspecthadthe
apparentability,opportunityandreasonablyperceivedintenttocommitanactlikelyto
causedeathorgreatbodilyharm.

JustifiableDecisions

Thoughimportanttolawenforcementandcorrectionalofficers,thisstandardisoftenthe
sourceofconfusiononthepartofthepublicwhenitcomestopoliceuseofforce.Asan
example,anofficermayshootasuspectwhoisholdingaknife.Somemembersofthe
publicmaydisagreewiththeofficers'sdecision,suggestinginsteadthatheshouldhave
usedanonlethalweaponsuchasatasertodisarmthesubject.
Whileatasermayhavebeenoneofmanypossibleoptionsavailable,itmaynothave
beenthemostreasonableor,morelikely,itmayhavebeenoneofmanyreasonableforce
optionsandthus,giventhefactthataknifeisquitecapableofcausingdeathorgreat
bodilyharm,theofficerisverylikelyjustifiedintheuseofdeadlyforce.

OfficerandSubjectFactors

Anotherimportantconsiderationinevaluatinganofficer'suseofforcesistheofficer
himselfascomparedtothesubjectinquestion.Anofficerwhois5'2"and100pounds
maybejustifiedinusinggreaterforceagainstasubjectwhois6'2"250poundsthan
wouldataller,heavierandpresumablystrongerofficerinsimilarcircumstances.

UsesofForceMoreComplicatedThanFirstLooksSuggest

Allofthisgoestodemonstratethatusesofforcebycorrectionsandpoliceofficersare
mostoftenfarmorecomplicatedthanasinglenewsstoryorInternetvideomayinitially
makethemappear.Lawenforcementcareersareknowntobeinherentlydangerousjobs,
andofficersareoftenplacedinsituationswheretheyarerequiredtomakeinstantaneous
lifeanddeathdecisions.

Whileitisentirelycorrectandappropriatetoevaluateandscrutinizetheactionsof
police,especiallywhentheyemploycontroltechniques,itisalsoveryimportantto
withholdjudgementuntilallofthefactsleadinguptotheincidentareknown.Itis
especiallyimportanttojudgethesedecisionsbasedonlyonthosefactsthatwereknown
orperceivedbytheofficeratthetimeoftheincident,asopposedtothosefactsthatmay
becomeknownafterthefact.

SoundLawEnforcementRequiresSoundJudgement

Likewise,itisimportantforofficerstousesoundjudgementandduediligencewhen
determiningwhetherornottoemployforceandexactlywhatforetouse.Thepublic
rightlyholdsitslawenforcementofficerstoahighethicalstandard.Itisincumbentupon
officers,then,toadheretothatstandardandtoalwaysactintheinterestofsafeguarding
livesandproperty,whileatthesametimepreservingandprotectingtherightsofthe
innocent.