Reactions and Reflections on Readings in Cyndi Banks' Criminal Justice Ethics: Theory and Practice
Introduction No serious-minded individual over the age of twelve actually thinks that justice and ethical issues involved in criminality are purely black-and-white or clear-cut issues of good and bad. The first chapters of Cyndi Banks' (2008) Criminal Justice Ethics, however, make it clear that the issues of right and wrong in the criminal justice system are far more complex, specific, and subtle than one might have guessed, even when grand and overarching principles serve as the ultimate source for the ethical considerations in a criminal justice case. Especially when supplemented by additional research regarding the workings of the criminal justice system and the application of ethics in cranial justice decisions and policies, the first chapters of this book have a profound effect in shaping an awareness of such considerations.
The Importance of Ethics One of the most profound impacts the first chapter of Banks' (2008) book has on the reader is in breaking down the different ways of understanding ethics, some of which are at least in part mutually exclusive. Ethical absolutism doesn't take into account differences in cultural values or perspectives, and yet it is easy to see that there are significant differences in perspective and what is considered acceptable, wrong, or even criminal from society to society and even within sub-cultures in a given society (Banks,
Developing information suggests that a criminal justice system gains practical value by generating societal views of fair enforcement and judgement. Particularly, views of practical fairness resulting in views of the system 's legality, may promote systemic compliance with applicable law, support with legal institutions and actors, and respect to even negative outcomes. A separate information alludes that a criminal justice system derives realistic value by allocating criminal legal responsibility and punishment according to principles that trail general instincts of justice. Distinctively, views of applicable justice resulting in views of the system 's ethical credibility would seem to promote compliance, support, and respect. By contrast, a criminal justice system alleged to be procedurally unfair or basically unjust may incite resistance and agitation, and may lose its capacity to control powerful social and normative influence.
As time goes by, ethical and moral issues have been brought up for long periods of time and these issues are recently becoming the rising problem to be discussed in society, business area and daily life. Most of people generally understand that the general meaning of ethics equals to the meaning of moral. However, moral is basically a matter of individual conscience without forcibleness, but ethics are related to social system with forcibleness. The academic definition of ethics is described as a stem of philosophy which raises moral questions and is demonstrated what is the main characteristic of morality and the way in which moral standards are decided (Gray & Webb, 2010).
In order to answer this scenario, I need to look at the underlying ethical system and the moral rules leading to my judgment. As in many scenarios, there are conflicting moral rules that could justify different judgments. While police officers are supposed to enforce laws, they are also primarily expected to protect life and property (Nakate, 2011). Public safety is the primary concern of police officers. Therefore, unless a law involves mandatory reporting, then an officer is expected to exercise some discretion involving those laws. The theory behind requiring permits in order to hold a rally is that some rallies can lead to dangers for the public. Therefore, in this scenario, I would have to determine whether there was a reasonable likelihood that the rally might become violent. It is important to realize that even if the sponsoring group would not advocate violence, any rally about a controversial issue has the ability to become violent. Whether or not the tipster is providing accurate information is not of critical importance, because planning to hold a rally without a permit is not illegal; holding a rally without a permit is not illegal. As a police officer, I could ethically respond to the tip by going to the head of the group and ask if they were planning to hold a rally the next day and remind him of the permit requirement. I could do this without neglecting my
The relationship among ethics and professional behavior in the direction of criminal justice is one, which is very vital. The point of the matter is that these individuals who are in places of power entails that he or she must equalize a balanced of business professionalism in accordance with the laws alongside a code of ethics that live inside and for the law along with their individual private morals and ethics. Numerous could dispute the battle among the ethics of a lawyer on behalf of somebody that they know to be guilty and they would have a usable disagreement in regard to what way ethical it is. A lawyer has the decision to not defend an individual if they feel so motivated to do so. Still, in this state one has rules in one’s laws that
No matter what job you have in the criminal justice system there will always be ethical dilemmas that arise. As a person who’s job is to enforce the law there is always a way to step over the boundaries whether it be unfair treatment to citizens, inmates or agencies. There is always areas of the career to consider and in order to make everyone happy there are steps that need to be taken. From the police officer on the street to the parole board there is always something that could come up which could have consequences for either decision so which is the right one?
Despite the fact that the criminal law is essentially a moral enterprise, the legally-trained actors in the criminal justice system rarely explicitly examine exactly what moral principles the system is enforcing. One reason for the absence of moral analysis is that most lawyers are not trained in moral philosophy. Generally, legal education has never seriously attempted to incorporate moral principles into instruction.”
In his book, Beyond Bumper Sticker Ethics, author Steve Wilkens discusses nine ethical views that are prevalent in cultures today. Although the systems are sometimes vague, and his discussions, a bit biased, I find myself fortunate because I seem to agree with most of his opinions that he lets slip.
The foundation of criminal justice is ethics. This is our moral reasoning, and this is how we define criminal activity. Ethics give meaning to law because without it law would be undependable. Ethics govern our constitutional laws and it holds up our constitutional rights. Ethics is what govern our lawmakers into making the right law. Ethics is what govern our enforcement when dealing with law breaking citizen to do the ethical thing when it comes to law breakers. As a defense lawyer a person must be able to truthfully represent their client laying the burden of proof on the prosecutor. A criminal has to be proven guilty, so the defense lawyer would need to give that person a fair chance. The prosecuting attorney should be ethical because
There are endless reasons why ethics in criminal justice is vitally important. Loyalty plays a huge role in ethics. Loyalty the people, loyalty to the system, and loyalty to oneself are keys to the theoretical construct of truth in being an ethical criminal justice practitioner. In my opinion there is three outstanding reasons that ethics are so important, which include contractible and non-contractible obligations, the primacy of justice, and to maintain institutional integrity.
Prompt: Give an account of the role of ethics and its significance to the functions of the criminal justice system in America, and describe its impact on crime and social control.
We should properly examine the criminal justice process in our discussion of ethics by focusing more on due process, police corruption, and punishment, which are examples and important issues that has to deal with our personal
There are a variety of different ethical systems that have developed of the course of millennia. However, even though the subject has been covered so thoroughly, it is still heavily debated. The varieties of ethical systems that are in existence look at various ethical problems from different perspectives and can be applied differently in different circumstances. Because of the subjective aspects to applying ethics, they can be as much an art as they are a science. Ethics are something that must be practiced and really cannot be perfected. In this way, studying ethics is a continual process that does not really stop. This paper will argue that ethics are the most important subject that an individual can pursue.
I concur with chapter one that agents of the criminal justice system should be held to a higher moral standard. In the view of the discretionary nature of the work and the power invested in agents of the system, it is necessary for them to be held to a higher standard than the average citizen. The agents are here to protect and serve the community moreover required to obtain a higher ethical standard than the norm. Ethics are defined as "the discipline of determining good and evil and defining moral duties" (Pollock, 2017, p. 8). Laws should not be considered without some type of ethics, for a law to be passed, there has to be a decision about right or wrong. Law provides concrete principals & guidelines, but it is incapable of progressing
Although rationality does not always exist, much of the functioning of criminal justice agencies is unplanned, poorly coordinated, and unregulated. Existing systems include some components that are very ancient, additionally each of the institutions have their own set of goals and priorities that sometimes conflict with those of other institutions, or with the goals and priorities of the system as a whole. Furthermore, each of these institutions have substantial unregulated discretion in making particular decisions such as the victim's decision to report a crime (Frase & Weidner).
Cultural and ethical relativisms are widely used theories that explain differences among cultures and their ethics and morals. Morality deals with individual character and the moral rules that are meant to govern and limit one’s character. On the other hand Ethics is somewhat interchangeable with morals, but it actually defines the principles of right conduct, thus to some extent, enlarging its scope to a societal or communal level. Ideally, ethics play a vital role in determining the dos and don’ts when dealing with the society. This essay will discuss what ethical realism is, analyzing why ethical relativism is unsound and unreliable in relation to the relevant evidence and literature, providing valid reason to ascertain why this is the case.