NCJ Number
156113
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 57 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1995) Pages: 110-113
Date Published
1995
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), as well as State and local governments, and correctional authorities have begun to establish codes of ethics or codes of conduct, particularly designed to guide correctional officers in the use of less-than- lethal weapons and other technologically sophisticated devices.
Abstract
Codes of ethics are established by professional bodies in order to demonstrate that members of the profession recognize the importance of their role in society and as a means of self- regulation. Typically, ethics codes are drawn around a broad set of principles to which all members of the profession should aspire; in corrections, these include protecting inmates, protecting oneself and third persons, and preserving institutional integrity. Although there will some overlap between the ethical and legal codes, codes of conduct generally attempt to adhere to the spirit, as well as the letter, of the law. The codes then outline a schedule of sanctions for those who do not desire to follow the moral direction it provides. In the case of nonlethal force, the BOP code of ethics provides guidance on when to employ force, whether to use immediate or calculated force, what method and degree of force would be warranted, proper precautions to ensure the health and safety of all involved, proper document and reporting of incidents, and procedures to care for inmates after the incident.