Ethics in Criminal Justice
Ethics In Corrections
Okefenokee Technical College
CRJU 1400 Ethics and Cultural Perspective for Criminal Justice
November 25, 2013
Ethics in Corrections Police and other law enforcement officers deal with the concept of what is right and wrong more often than many other fields. Particularly, correctional officers in prisons and jails often face ethical dilemmas every day (McConnell, 2006). There are many daily scenarios where a correctional officer makes choices that involve their emotions and morals. The practice of making ethical choices is especially important in policing because using your emotions or moral values does not always create a satisfactory solution (Anonymous, 2002).
While officers in correctional facilities are in positions of power over prisoners who have made unethical decisions, it is important that they do not abuse this power (Martin, 2001). There are many ethical issues that are very specific to prisons (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2005). One of the biggest ethical issues within correctional facilities is the subject of sexual misconduct (McConnell, 2006). While in recent years laws have been passed to try and rein in this problem, there are still many complaints made about sexual abuse in prisons and jails; around 60% of those complaints are against facility staff members rather than prisoners (Hunter, 2010). Another issue within correctional facilities is discrimination or misconduct performed by officers pertaining to race and/or gender. Other ethical issues include mistreatment of mentally ill patients as well as drug abuse and trafficking (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2005). It is the duty and obligation of a correctional officer to make responsible, moral, ethical decisions concerning these issues within correctional facilities.
Although prisons are filled with people who are considered unethical, it is important to encourage those people to behave
Okefenokee Technical College
CRJU 1400 Ethics and Cultural Perspective for Criminal Justice
November 25, 2013
Ethics in Corrections Police and other law enforcement officers deal with the concept of what is right and wrong more often than many other fields. Particularly, correctional officers in prisons and jails often face ethical dilemmas every day (McConnell, 2006). There are many daily scenarios where a correctional officer makes choices that involve their emotions and morals. The practice of making ethical choices is especially important in policing because using your emotions or moral values does not always create a satisfactory solution (Anonymous, 2002).
While officers in correctional facilities are in positions of power over prisoners who have made unethical decisions, it is important that they do not abuse this power (Martin, 2001). There are many ethical issues that are very specific to prisons (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2005). One of the biggest ethical issues within correctional facilities is the subject of sexual misconduct (McConnell, 2006). While in recent years laws have been passed to try and rein in this problem, there are still many complaints made about sexual abuse in prisons and jails; around 60% of those complaints are against facility staff members rather than prisoners (Hunter, 2010). Another issue within correctional facilities is discrimination or misconduct performed by officers pertaining to race and/or gender. Other ethical issues include mistreatment of mentally ill patients as well as drug abuse and trafficking (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2005). It is the duty and obligation of a correctional officer to make responsible, moral, ethical decisions concerning these issues within correctional facilities.
Although prisons are filled with people who are considered unethical, it is important to encourage those people to behave
References: Anonymous. (2002, 12 10). Discretion, Community, and Correctional Ethics. Retrieved 10 1, 2013, from Proquest.com: http://search.proquest.com/docview/209757398/14118C068B513AEC8E5/1?accountid=12962 California, S. o. (2007). Ethics and Culture. Retrieved from California Performance Review: http://cpr.ca.gov/Review_Panel/Ethics_and_Culture.html Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2005). Substance Abuse Treatment for Adults in the Criminal Justice System. Retrieved 10 1, 2013, from NCBI.gov: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64123/ Hunter, G. (2010, 5 25). Sexual Abuse by Prison and Jail Staff Proves Persistent, Pandemic. Retrieved 10 1, 2013, from Prison Legal News.org: https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/displayArticle.aspx?articleid=21225&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 Klugiewicz, G. T. (2010, December 28). Top 10 correctional issues for 2011. (D. Johnson, Interviewer) Martin, K. (2001, 8 27). The Powerful Role of Ethics in Corrections. Retrieved 10 2, 2013, from Corrections.com: http://www.corrections.com/articles/7890 McConnell, T. (2006, 10 19). Ethics In Corrections. Retrieved 10 1, 2013, from voices.yahoo.com: http://voices.yahoo.com/ethics-corrections-95279.html?cat=17 Misha. (2006, May 11). Corrections Officers and the Ethics of Dealing with Prisoners. Retrieved from Yahoo! Voices: http://voices.yahoo.com/corrections-officers-dealing-with-36690.html Sciences, N. A. (2007). Insitute of Medicine (US) Committee on Ethical Considerations for Revisions to DHHS Regulations for Protection of Prisoners Involved in Reasearch. DC: National Academy Press (US).