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Research Paper
Ethics in the Justice System
Liberty University- Public Administration
PADM 501-B02
Dr. Connie Bates
October 11, 2020
Introduction
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Ethics is a question that is brought up in many forms. Morals have and will be an issue
between right and wrong, and how lives are guided. Ethics is a moral judgment of what is right
or wrong, good or bad. Integrity allows people to make the right choice when faced with
problems and moral disputes (Felkenes, 1987). Societies’ ethical values are based on formal
rules, laws, and regulations that are administrated by local, state, and federal governments. If you
compare the United States to other countries, you will see a variation in ethics and different
standards of behavior. Principles are incorporated into the justice system and other government
agencies and this is where there are challenges in departments on how to serve the people with
laws. Even looking at elected officials, and how they govern can be subjective in what beliefs
and values they truly have. Looking at professions like police officers, judges/magistrates,
corrections officers, and others, who work within the justice system has a certain level of ethics,
and in which they are to live and conduct themselves (Singer, 2004). Even given these
professions, there is still a level of uncertainty. Even some scholars challenge there is one
standard of beliefs due to societal changes, and the different ethical standards in other counties.
Integrity is what causes people to behave in several ways. Those within the justice system focus
more on an individual’s actions. Having a code of ethics helps those within the justice system do
the correct thing for the right motives (Singer, 2004). A system of rules allows administrators and
elected officials to check their actions against anticipated standards. Law enforcement contains a
duty within the justice system. Law enforcement officials have responsibilities to take care of the
moral codes of a given justice and department of local government (Felkenes, 1987).
The public does not see it in this manner, they see police officers as unethical with
compromised morals. Law enforcement can be a critical part of ventures for effective justice
administration (Kopko, 2011). Officers working within the criminal justice system struggle daily
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with ethical issues, and that they face new issues daily. Law Enforcement officers are given
plenty of responsibility, and that they should handle each issue accordingly. Many organizations
try to address the public’s concerns to extend professionalism and verify changes necessary for
quality law enforcement. Due to these concerns, members of the Justice Administration proposed
that efficient policing greatly relies on the education requirements for law enforcement officers.
Therefore, this involved the global requirement of a four-year degree. Additionally, the justice
administration established law enforcement standards, training, and required morally upright
officers (Carter and Wilson, 2006). The criminal justice administration established police
standards; however, the organization had the responsibility to get rid of the certification of
unethical police officers. To avoid hiring unethical officers, background checks and references
are looked at to hire the most qualified officers. The background investigation concluded the
hiring process for many departments because it forecasts an employee’s future behavior (Carter
and Wilson, 2006).
Literature
There are several academic studies and publications on the problem of ethics in justice
administration, in general, police integrity. A number of these early studies are mainly field
researches conducted by scholars unitedly with justice administrators like police practitioners in
several countries of the world. Other prior researchers made investigations supported
publications within the area of police occupational socialization, enforcement principles, and
associated fields. Within law enforcement concerning police ethics, some police organizations
have developed a code of ethics for his or her members (Carter and Wilson, 2006). The most aim
of the code of ethics established is to assist in managing these cops guided by a collection
standard of labor. Additionally, the code of ethics established by these police officials could be a
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step against corruption. Also, other studies suggest that fostering ethical policing could be a
global challenge. Ethical policing should protect the dignity of despised people; however, some
police departments ignore the human dimension by that specialize in what they are doing rather
than that specialize in how they perform their duties. Studied do suggest that law enforcement
officers enforce ethical standards and effective policing through policy proscription and
punishment. However, this approach has several challenges like police actions are un-reviewable.
To impose ethical standards on lower-ranking cops, front line law enforcers, officials, and justice
administrators should embrace ethics (Carter and Wilson, 2006).
Christian View
The definition of “Christian Worldview” varies but breaking down the word makes it
easy to grasp its meaning. Another suggested definition is an interior belief system about the
factual world, what it is, why it is the way it is, and also the way it operates. However,
“worldview,” is not a specific list of beliefs but rather, it is the orientation of the center. A
person’s worldview represents the sum of feelings, beliefs, and memories, knowledge, and
experiences accustomed to explaining events and make decisions (Kopko, 2011). Police officers
are influenced by worldview will influence the way one handles ethical dilemmas in their line of
duty. People are capable of distinguishing other’s worldview; however, morals involve one’s
honor revealed in their actions when nobody else is present.
A person belonging to a Christian view lives to be like Christ. Therefore, for such
someone, they should maintain a biblical worldview, which is to have the qualities or rather a
mind of Christ (Autio, 2005). additionally, such people who claim to possess a Christian
worldview, should show consistency with their claim and act accordingly. Although a Christian
worldview doesn't automatically prevent ethical challenges, people with Christian worldviews
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don't seem to be vulnerable to giving in to unethical decisions in dilemmas (Kopko, 2011).
Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform anymore to the pattern of this world but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind. Then you'll be able to assess and accept what God’s will is.”
Colossians 2:8 says: “See thereto that no-one takes you captive through the deep and deceptive
idea, which depends on human tradition and so the elemental principles of this world rather than
on Christ (NIV).”
The verses from the scriptures emphasize the importance of staying in God’s will.
Christians have been warned of the dangers of falling into a “deceptive philosophy” that the
world tries to impose on the Christian beliefs. Christian officers obey the scriptures, but many
challenges may cause them to stumble (DeWitt, 2007). However, if a Christian policeman
maintains their Christian faith within the face of dilemmas, they will have a simple time in their
deciding. The enforcement profession comes with circumstances that challenge enforcement
officials. as an example, a protector searching a part may spot make the foremost one in each of
the drawers. The officer being alone could take the cash, and no-one would see. Officers with a
Christian worldview recognize that stealing is wrong and can't justify the act because the cash
belongs to a crook or a felon.
Some of the moral dilemmas faced by enforcement officers are not new, and not much
changed in approaching the dilemmas thanks to the sinful nature of man. Since the autumn of
Adam and Eve within the Garden of Eden, individuals do not study a way to learn because
they're born with a sinful nature. However, individuals know what is right or wrong, and it's their
decision to decide on the proper or wrong that creates the difference. In general, cops have the
solution to what to try in most given cases, and it is their decision that produces the difference.
within the higher cognitive process of an ethical, officers with Christian worldviews should have
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a straightforward time to resolve a situation because the Holy Ghost guides them (Jones and
Carlson, 2004).
Christians in Law Enforcement
In law enforcement, there are times when a politician should choose from the moral
codes and also the police subculture of coping with ethical dilemmas. Ethical dilemmas exist and
might challenge anyone in any profession in every unimaginable way. law enforcement officials
who pray through a given dilemma, he or she stands an opportunity compared to an official who
feels alone in their dilemma. Psalms 46:1 says, “God is our refuge, an ever-present help in
trouble (NIV).” The passage encourages believers to always remember that God’s omnipotence
and the way foolish it's for Christians to depend upon themselves through trials (Kopko, 2011). A
Christian walk is challenging and encompasses a lot of hardships. The temptation to compromise
an officer’s faith could be a struggle if the officer is that the only Christian within the
department.
Ethics and Morals
Police officers, like myself, consistently have our ethical stands put to the test. The
officers encounter new issues then the officer must handle the challenge. Not only do the officers
should accomplish their duties professionally, but the task requires each scenario handled
ethically and morally. Although ethics and morals are two different issues, they need a
correlation and supplement one another interchangeably. An individual’s morals consider the
behavior while ethics could even be a study of these morals. Ethics refers to the system of ethical
values that supported the principle of right and wrong. enforcement officials play a very
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important role within the administration of justice; therefore, they ought to view themselves as
reflective and abide by the law.
The term ethics has many definitions, but a review reveals that almost all the definitions
apply the identical concept. as an example, ethics are “principles of accepted rules of conduct for
a specific individual or group as mandated by law, policy, or procedure.” the individuality of
enforcement occupations causes some challenges in abiding completely by the principles and
procedures (DeWitt, 2007). additionally, there is not any single lawman capable of policing by
the set rules, which they violate rules included in their code of ethics (Pogrebin, 2003). Such jobs
that aim to deliver efficient administration of justice to people entail an honest deal of discretion
and deciding that include no warning or instruction. the priority is that morality within the planet
is corrupted, and ethical considerations involve discretion, force, and processes that entail
enlightened moral judgments.
Ethical Problem in Law Enforcement
Police officers protect their colleagues as a mirrored image of loyalty for every other.
Given history it is clear that officers have neglected their code of ethics. Additionally, they opted
to honor their subculture and therefore the code of silence. Ethical behavior within a department
of local government is the responsibility of each officer within that department. Say officers are
involved in a shooting. These officers can elaborate and collaborate with each other to discuss
reports before anything is reviewed by a sergeant showing that everyone had a choice, either to
mention what was right or wrong. However, officers can construct a report basing a story on the
choice to protect their colleague against disciplinary action and justifying a shooting on self-
defense.
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A police officer reports to a supervisor that their partner is sleeping on the job. Male and
female officers are faced with harassment which includes threatening phone calls and destruction
of their property. The officer had an option either to live in step with the code of ethics or choose
the way provided within the code of silence. This case makes it clear that ethics could be a
choice, not elaborate, but the officer lived up to the code of ethics. The officer could have chosen
to let the opposite officers sleep, but the results were fatal, like putting others in danger by not
stopping a wrong-way driver or being ambushed and shot in a patrol vehicle. Choices made by
officers in ethical dilemmas may result negatively regardless of the choices they create. Police
officers have standards just in case of ethical dilemmas. Some officers may rely on their
colleagues to disobey or obey rather than taking a stand. Taking a stand can even cause rise to
adverse consequences. Such complicated dilemmas require officers soliciting for God’s guidance
to create ethical decisions (Jones and Carlson, 2004).
Approaching Ethical Problems
Ethical predicaments become difficult because of the spontaneous manner during which
they occur. This makes justice administrators make improper decisions. However, for law
enforcers who play employment in justice administration, there are exercises they need to
undertake to rearrange for any unethical problem which can arise in their line of duty (Tillman,
1998). Within the justice administration domain, professionals should participate in sessions,
seminars, practicing, and planning on a way to approach various problems that can arise. This
section provides some predicament exercises which can help officers prepare before the time for
a given problem.
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These three tools have a design to retell law enforcers facing an ethical problem that they
are not proposing to undertake to isn't morally and socially acceptable. The bell is considered to
represent the conscience that has to sound when a political candidate is on the sting of building a
choice. additionally, it acts as a warning that the choice made comes with adverse results and
entails keen consideration before making the ultimate word decision (Kopko, 2011). The book
represents the values and laws earlier taught. within the police academies, recruits re-evaluate
laws and regulations, and every individual law enforcer should know the standards set by the
justice administration unitedly with the department of the presidency. This book acts as a
reference for the officer and aids them in the code of ethics. The candle indicates the choice
made through the public. The official should consider the consequence of his or her choices in
the eyes of the public (Jones and Carlson, 2004).
It is difficult for enforcement officials to see where the moral line lies. enforcement
officials should recognize that when addressing ethics in justice administration, several gray
areas will arise. Ethical issues are relative meaning that the matter has a multitude of sides that
modify. looking at a political candidate, some situations may appear as relative or gray issues
thereto officer. When a component of power exists it's highly probable that one may profit from
the flexibleness. For a lawman, he or she should have an additional factor when addressing an
ethical problem appearing as a gray area. The factor is that the flexibleness to define whether the
world may be a sin and act accordingly (Hess and Wrobleski, 2006).
Due to the justice administration system isn't always clear on every scenario, but deals
with problems of grey areas, ethical problems have lots of complexities. additionally, officers
often are struggling to abide by commands and standards set for them. for example, the Ten
Commandments are straightforward. At some point, a police officer may and have become
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devious for the greater good. When an enforcer interacts with members of the public, the
department allows them to use deceit if it's necessary (Progrebin, 2003). Discretion of the officer
is significant in situations where deceit is that the only answer and when it's not acceptable,
excusable, or justifiable. Justice administrators place value on honesty; however, in court, there
is no justification or excuse for truth fabrication. Therefore, for the effective administration of
justice in a very court scenario, the law enforcer’s word should have reliability because to
effectively administer fairness in justice.
Ethics and Management
Police officers have a structure of protocol/ The justice administration is the organization,
or rather companies like anything else. The organization has leaders, rankings in the police
department in order of merit (Carter and Wilson, 2006). The official imposes lower-ranking
police officers on how to work. The way they lead their subordinate officers determines how the
officers perform their duties on the field (Carter and Wilson, 2006). Every member of the police
department has a chance to become a leader. Ethics plays a significant role in supervising or
rather leading lower-ranking officers because leadership sets an example and affects their
performance. Ethical leadership in the police department will make officers independent, honest,
and ethical when faced with different issues. Ethical guidance will help eliminate the “silent
code” practiced by other police officers.
The chief of a police department should also demonstrate principles throughout the
agency including the patrol officer. Putting in mind that patrol officers have direct contact with
citizens, they will ethically treat the citizens. Ethics is related to the management of employees in
an organization (Carter and Wilson, 2006). The integration of morals in management will bring
forth to good results to the agency (Carter and Wilson, 2006). Whether working alone or with
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partners, officers must recognize their leadership functions, and develop ethical ways of solving
problems. Ethics in police management will inspire courage to officers who will stand up for the
truth in cases where their integrity is questioned.
Conclusion
The ethical issues within the justice administration bodies are identifiable, disappointing,
and comprehensible to some extent. Individuals pursuing careers in one amongst the justice
administration like judiciary, police, or the other public service should have wisdom and have
discretion. The justice administration needs professionals with passion and drive to take care of
sound morals and remain ethical in their choices. Taking law enforcement officials, a person
should value their standing in terms of morals and ethics significantly more than what the badge
represents. Yes, officers have a lot of authority but there should not be a battle between a
person’s integrity and decisions. They should pride themselves in with they do and not
compromise their ethics or morals. Additionally, the justice administration makes it that Christian
men and women must be capable of keeping up their beliefs and not compromise their
testimonies regardless of the uncountable problems that move towards them.
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References
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