Ethical Decision Making : The Code Of Silence

Nurses often encountered various ethical dilemmas in the practice setting. Both virtue ethics and caring ethics support good ethical decision making for nurses (Park, 2012, p. 149) but these are inadequate to assist in solving an ethical dilemma (Park, 2012, p. 149). For that reason an ethical decision making tool is helpful for the nurses or clinicians to come up with an ethical decision (Kelly, 2012, p. 571) that allows them to gather information, identify any gap of understanding on the issue or the disagreements between the involved parties through a clear communication (Park, 2012, p. 140). Several authors presented an ethical decision making processes (Park, 2012, p. 141), here presented the two processes that can be applied in resolving an ethical dilemma. One example of ethical decision making process is the DECIDE model by Thompson, Melia & Boyd (Allen, Chapman, Francis, & O’Connor, 2008, p. 5) and the Integrated ethical decision-making model which was derived from the combination of the different ethical decision-making models strengths (Park, 2012, p. 140). These two ethical decision-making model steps are identical to each but differ on the detailed instruction on how the steps are to be done or used in actual case. By comparing the two models the integrated ethical decision-making model have a detailed instruction. The

The code of ethics and conduct is a written set of rules and regulations that provides guidance to employees of an organization on how to conduct themselves and carry out their duties in line with the organization’s principles. The code of ethics and conduct is also be backed up by suitable disciplinary actions. A code of ethics and conducts helps employees deal with ethical issues and other gray areas that they face as they execute their daily activities. An effective code of ethics and conduct is required for an organization to run smoothly and maintain a positive image. Having an ineffective code of ethics and conduct is almost like having none.

The main forms of corruption committed by correctional officers, include “theft, trafficking, embezzlement, and misuse of authority” (Pollock, 2017, p. 403). An officer misuses authority when, “Accepting gratuities for special consideration during legitimate activities,” “Accepting gratuities for protection of illicit activities,” “Mistreatment/harassment or extortion of inmates,” “Mismanagement,” and “Miscellaneous abuses” (Pollock, 2017, p. 403-404). Correctional officers can take advantage of their power and use it excessively, such as acting bias toward the inmates, acting inconsiderate or careless toward inmates, and using their authority to gain something on a personal level, such as smuggling or theft (Pollock, 2017). Over the past five

Correctional officers or prison guards: these classifications are used to identify those in authority in institutions throughout the world. Correctional institutions in the United States are formulated on fairness and productivity, and the administrators within the institutions are held at the highest responsibility to see fit the safety and wellness of inmates during their time of rehabilitation. However, with the vast exposure of insubordination overtime, prison guards are being targeted as the true criminals. In certain cases, correctional officers are abusing their authority and neglecting inmate’s constitutional rights. This misconduct has tainted the integrity of correctional officers throughout much of the United States. Evidently, I will further demonstrate the unlawful misconduct among those in positions as correctional officers, the reason for their misconduct, and their effects on inmates.

What are ethics? And does one’s personal definition of ethics acceptable or unacceptable to criminal law’s definition of ethics? In the following paper, I will provide my working definition of the word ethics, provide a definition of ethics from a criminal justice perspective, provide a comparison of ethics in law versus the real world, investigate the need for equal treatment of all people in the criminal justice system and lastly illustrate the key safety measures offered through the criminal system.

When we hear news of corrections professionals commiting acts of misconduct, it shocks the community. Over time this can put a bad tast in the community’s mouth. Consequences of this include having less respect for athority and a divided community. Some of these instances of misconduct are small in scale and happen everyday. Others are bigger acts and are a lot less forgivable. Some examples include accepting gratuities for special consideration, mistreatment, harrassment or extortion of inmates, abuse, misuse of power and abusing authority for personal gain. In the community of corrections professionals. The

Ethics are very important in the Criminal Justice Field because it keeps up community and department moral and ensures that the right person will be charged with the right crime. It also ensures that justice will be served. If an officer has shown unethical behaviors in the past, who is to say that they won’t do it again? This loses faith and trust in the entire system and justice can never be fully served. Because of this, we must all do our parts in order to make sure that we, and our fellows, are practicing good ethics.

In the late 1990’s Officers Caruso and Rigg became whistleblowers regarding the activities that were occurring in Corcoran Prison. Conditions in the maximum security prison were detrimental to the safety of the prisoners that were incarcerated due to practices of forced integration among rival gang members and guard sanctioned fights between inmates. These unsafe conditions lead to the shooting death of an inmate. Caruso and Rigg stated many of the prison’s policies and practices contributed to the death of the inmate, including unclear rules regarding use of force, unethical behavior of guards and the covering up of the level of violence present at Corcoran, and failure of the prison administration to effectively make changes necessary to reduce the Violence and assure that the rights of the prisoners were respected (Dryburgh, 2009).

2.) The chief administrator becomes directly involved in the quality of background investigations by meeting with those who conduct backgrounds to ensure that they have completed background investigation seminar, are being given sufficient resources, understand how serious

Ethics is defined as a division of philosophy that deals with morals. This is what a person believes is right or wrong, it separate the good and evil of human actions, and distinguishes between the honest and dishonest characteristics of people. Ethics play three major roles within the criminal justice system.(1) A misconception that many people have is that their behavior to law enforcement agents doesn’t have anything to do with the ethical balance. It is important for people to be willing to share information and to be part of the system. This means for people within the community to come forward with information they may have on crimes or criminal activity and also participating in jury duty. (2)When it comes to police officers, they have

A Corrections Officer has many duties to consider as they manage the activities of inmates. They are charged with the responsibilities of conducting head counts, monitoring recreational activities, and supervising their work assignments while maintaining a safe environment ensuring the welfare of those who are incarcerated in the correctional facility and employed there, as well as protect the safety of the public communities. They are investigators trained to search for illegal or prohibited goods smuggled into the institution, respond to riots, transport inmates and write reports. Although the job of an officer is challenging still the manner in which they ought to interact with the inmates should exemplify a standard of discipline that displays ethical professionalism, and respect at all times.

The first step of the Ethical Decision-Making Procedure is stated as, “1.0 Become Aware of Dilemma” (McNamara). According to the given case scenario, the dilemma is clearly stated. It reads that the client (mother) does not believe in rewards or support the use of them for her son. The mother is going against what the BCBA believes in and stands for, thus causing a direct dilemma. Removing reinforcers is not feasible for the professional BCBA, and this must be properly addressed with the client. Situations like these are where the Ethical Compliance Code comes into place for the sake of the clients and professionals involved.

"Our results indicate that the informal methods ("manager sets an example" or "social norms of the organization") are likely to yield greater commitment with respect to both employee attitudes than formal methods ("training courses on the subject of ethics") (Adam, et al, 2004).

Throughtout this written assignment there will be a discussion on ethical decision making about making a decision on possible ethical consequences that may be placed in your life, and what ethical consequences will be dealt with in the mental health professional field. Decisions could possibility pertain your conduct such as an ethical dilemma that will required a serious decision to be solved by your action as an leader. Even though a leader may not have caused the problem, they do not have a choice but to respond to the issues at the workplace. The key is how would a leader react to the issue and how their reputation and career standards will interfear afterwards. An early recognition could prevent many ethical issues from increasing in the mental health field and work environment. Ethical dilemmas could happen in many different ways, such professionals do have any act of acknowledge by knowing they have allowed themselves to be placed in a predictment without any knowing about it. This assignment will also discuss the scenario, what the reactions were from the team leader, what consequences should take place, the code of ethics and what were the results from decision making.

A dictionary definition of ethics is: “A set of principles of right conduct, a theory or a system of moral values, the rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or members of a profession.” The American Heritage College Dictionary, Fourth Ed, Houghton-Mifflin, Boston, pp. 480. (Houghton, 2015)