Why Study Ethics?

Summary

The video script delves into the ethical responsibilities of professionals within the criminal justice system, highlighting the significant discretion they possess. It covers the roles of legislators, police, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and correctional officers, emphasizing their duty to uphold the law fairly and protect constitutional safeguards. The importance of ethics in decision-making, especially concerning life, liberty, and property, is underscored, advocating for ethical training to equip these professionals with the necessary skills to navigate the moral complexities of their roles.

Takeaways

• 📜 Discretion in Criminal Justice: Professionals in the criminal justice system, from legislators to correctional officers, have varying degrees of discretion, which is the power to make decisions between multiple choices.
• 🏛️ Legislators' Authority: Legislators have the power to define acts as illegal and set punishments, often driven by public safety or moral definitions.
• 🚔 Police Discretion: Police officers have significant discretionary power, including the ability to arrest, investigate, and in some cases, use lethal force.
• 🔍 Prosecutorial Discretion: Prosecutors have wide-ranging discretion in deciding whom to prosecute, which charges to pursue, and whether to seek the death penalty.
• 👩‍⚖️ Defense Attorneys' Duties: Defense attorneys have ethical duties similar to prosecutors but also unique responsibilities to their clients, such as deciding on plea deals and evidence presentation.
• 👨‍⚖️ Judicial Power: Judges have considerable power in accepting or denying plea bargains, ruling on evidence, and determining sentencing.
• 🛡️ Correctional Officers' Influence: Correctional officers and parole officers have immense discretion over the lives of citizens, affecting their liberty and well-being.
• 🏛️ Duty to Enforce Law: All professionals in the criminal justice system have a fundamental duty to uphold and enforce the law, serving as public servants.
• 👥 Public Servants' Ethical Standards: As public servants, these professionals are held to higher ethical standards, reflecting the public trust placed in them.
• 🧐 Importance of Ethics: Ethics is crucial for criminal justice professionals to administer policy effectively and make morally and ethically responsible decisions.
• 🤔 Ethical Dilemmas: Criminal justice professionals face ethical dilemmas involving discretion, force, and due process, requiring them to make informed moral judgments.

Q & A

What is the definition of discretion in the context of the criminal justice system?

Discretion in the context of the criminal justice system refers to the authority to make a decision between two or more choices, especially when decisions are not entirely bound by legal rules or policy regulations.

Why is ethics important for legislators who write laws?

Ethics is important for legislators because they have the power to define certain acts as illegal and set the amount of punishment, which requires a strong grounding in ethics to ensure public safety and moral definitions are applied responsibly.

How does the discretionary power of police officers affect the public?

Police officers have the power to deprive people of their liberty through arrest and decide which individuals to investigate, which can greatly affect the public when they choose to give a warning instead of a traffic ticket, for example.

What ethical duty do prosecutors have in the criminal justice system?

Prosecutors have an ethical duty to pursue justice rather than merely securing a conviction, which means their discretion in deciding whom and how to prosecute should be influenced by the goal of justice.

What are the unique duties of defense attorneys in comparison to prosecutors?

Defense attorneys have ethical duties similar to prosecutors but also have unique duties to their clients, such as deciding whether to encourage a plea deal, what evidence to use, and how to try the case.

What powers do judges typically have in the criminal justice system?

Judges possess significant power, which is typically employed through decisions to deny or accept plea bargains, rulings on rules of evidence, and decisions about sentencing.

How do correctional officers' decisions impact the lives of prisoners?

Correctional officers have immense power over the lives of citizens, making daily decisions that affect the life and health of prisoners they supervise, including decisions on punishment and segregation.

What is the role of parole officers in the criminal justice system?

Parole officers decide when to file a violation report and make decisions that affect the parolee as well as their family members, demonstrating a significant discretion over the lives of those they control.

What does the phrase 'we are a nation of laws not men' imply about the legal system?

The phrase implies that no one is above the law, regardless of power, and that the law should be applied fairly without taking the law into one's own hands, emphasizing the importance of constitutional safeguards like due process and equal protection.

Why is the study of ethics important for criminal justice professionals?

The study of ethics is important for criminal justice professionals because it helps develop critical thinking and analytical skills needed to understand and navigate the ethical aspects of their work, including decisions involving discretion, force, and due process.

What ethical considerations are essential for criminal justice research?

Ethical considerations essential for criminal justice research include recognizing the potential for abuse of power, ensuring fairness and unbiased application of the law, and upholding the principles of due process and equal protection.