The Importance of Ethical Behavior in Criminal Justice

Ethical behavior is fundamental in the functioning of the criminal justice system. It is necessary for maintaining its integrity and preventing its collapse. Upholding ethical standards is crucial for individuals to ensure a successful system. Despite ethical standards evolving, critical thinking skills are vital for their sustainability. Ethical behavior is not inherent but acquired through learning, starting from youth and progressing into adulthood.

It is important to understand that a person's initial ethical values are often influenced by their upbringing at home, particularly by the ethical behavior demonstrated by parents and family members.

Exposure to criminal activity and violence can normalize unethical behavior, causing an individual's ethical values to diverge from societal norms. As individuals grow older, their life experiences continue to shape their moral and ethical beliefs. Some argue that actions considered unethical may not be illegal and therefore can be dismissed; however, legality does not equate to morality. In the field of criminal justice, ethical considerations form the foundation for exercising discretion, force, and due process in order to make morally sound decisions.

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In the study of consequences and moral principles within criminal justice, ethics plays a crucial role. It should be incorporated into various aspects such as management, policy-making, punishment, rehabilitation, deterrence, and sentencing decisions. Those working in the field of criminal justice hold significant authority over others (Banks, 2004), underscoring the importance of recognizing their power and abiding by ethical standards. Training is essential to maintain ethical principles and ensure compliance with them.

It is cost-effective to train staff in order to prevent legal costs and damages from ethical violations.

Ongoing training is crucial due to the increase in claims against officers for unethical behavior (Eastvedt, 2008). Professionals in criminal justice must understand ethical principles. Idealism aims to achieve desired outcomes through right actions, while relativism recognizes that different circumstances can lead to undesirable outcomes.

It is important to comprehend the four approaches to ethical decision making in order to determine employee beliefs. Situationists assess each situation without adhering to universal moral codes, while subjectivists disregard societal norms but uphold their own moral principles. Absolutists follow universal moral principles for best results, while exceptionists permit deviations in specific circumstances. Critical thinking also has a significant impact (Bailey, 2009).

Having critical thinking skills is crucial for individuals to distinguish between right and wrong, make informed decisions, and engage in ethical decision-making. Critical thinking encompasses cognitive abilities like interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference, explanation, and self-regulation. Additionally, affective dispositions prompt individuals to be curious, well-informed, mindful of biases, receptive to changing beliefs, and discerning about when to apply critical thinking.

Meisel & Fearon (2006) emphasize the importance of taking time to weigh options and consider possibilities before forming beliefs or taking action.

The Williams Institute and the APPA are collaborating to introduce the compliance-based model and responsibility-based model into ethics training. The Williams Institute believes that ethical responsibility is grounded in relationships and the accountability for one's actions, rather than rules and codes. Through providing individuals with the necessary tools to make ethical decisions, TWI believes that individuals will choose wisely. The initial step involves eliminating fear from the decision-making process and empowering individuals to take ownership of their decisions (The Williams Institute, 2001). Ethics training in the criminal justice sector necessitates an understanding of the individuals and roles within the field.

Individuals in this field are evaluated and critiqued for their ethical or unethical decision-making. Discretion is vital in all aspects of the system, and understanding the various roles of each person is essential in recognizing how unethical issues may arise. Legislators have the authority to establish what is illegal and subject to punishment under the law, while police officers wield significant discretion in decisions related to arrests, citations, and investigations. Prosecutors face relatively less scrutiny due to the trust placed in them to uphold the law, with discretion playing a key role in their responsibilities such as filing charges, downgrading charges, influencing officers, and handling cases involving the death penalty.

Judges and individuals in corrections both exercise discretion in various aspects of their roles, such as plea bargains, sentencing, probation, and supervision of inmates. They share a responsibility to uphold the law and protect constitutional rights. Training for these roles should focus on developing analytical skills, reasoning, and understanding the impact of decisions. After completing ethical training, individuals should aim to be aware of ethical issues, take personal responsibility, enhance critical thinking skills, acknowledge coercive tendencies in the system, and explore their own feelings (Drylie, J.).

Albanese (2006) stresses the importance of ethics in criminal justice administration. It is crucial for professionals in this field to understand and uphold suspects' rights, community interests, and the law. As individuals mature and integrate into society, their ethical beliefs may evolve due to life experiences. Acknowledging how ethics influence people's perspectives aids administrators in developing effective strategies for engaging with them. Offering training and education for personnel in the criminal justice sector fosters the maintenance of these values within the system.

Albanese, J., 2006, Professional Ethics in Criminal Justice: Being Ethical When No One is Looking, retrieved May 12, 2013 from: . Strahlendorf, P., Professional Ethics, Ryerson University, School of Occupational and Public Health, Session No.174, Retrieved May 12, 2013 from: http://www.bcsp.org/pdf/PresentationsArticles/714_1.pdf Banks ,2004,the Importance of Ethics in Criminal Justice,retrieved May 12 ,2013 from:http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/4031_Banks_Chapter_1_Proof.pdf Drylie,J.,Ethics in Criminal Justice,CJ3750,Kean University,retrieved May 12 ,2013 from:< a href ="http://www.kean.edu/~jdrylie/docs/Microsoft%20PowerPoint%20-%20Ethics%20Week%201.pdf"> http :// www.kean.edu/~jdrylie/docs/Microsoft%20PowerPoint %20-%20Ethics %20Week %201 .pdf Eastvedt ,Steven R.Meisel,S.I.,& Fearon,D.S.(2006)."Choose the future wisely": Supporting better ethics through critical thinking.Journal of Management Education, 30(1),149-176.The text was retrieved on May 12, 2013 from two different sources: http://search.proquest.com/docview/195719245?accountid=35812 and http :// www.corrections .com /news/article /20030 . It discusses criminal justice ethics from a top-down perspective in the year 2008.