NCJ Number
149845
Date Published
1994
Length
251 pages
Annotation
Complicated moral and ethical dilemmas confront criminal justice practitioners, and this book provides guidance on morality and ethics and the role of ethics in the criminal justice system, law enforcement, courts, and corrections.
Abstract
Intended for undergraduate students and practitioners in the criminal justice field, the book defines moral behavior and examines the link between law and morality. Ethical systems are identified, including religious ethics, natural law, ethical formalism, utilitarianism, ethics of virtue, ethics of care, and egoism. The author covers psychological theories of moral development, ethics and criminality, distributive justice, corrective justice, victim rights, and law and society. She also explores ethics in law enforcement by focusing on authority and power, formal ethics for police officers, discretion and duty, graft and gratuities, deception in investigation and interrogation, coercion and the use of force, loyalty and whistle blowing, and training and management issues. With respect to ethics in courts, the author looks at perceptions of judicial processing and ethical issues for lawyers, judges, defense attorneys, and prosecutors. Finally, ethical issues in corrections are reviewed that encompass retribution, just deserts, punishment and treatment alternatives, the use of discretion and authority, the use of authority and power, and probation and parole. Appendixes contain information on American Bar Association (ABA) rules of professional responsibility and ABA standards for defense and prosecution functions. References and tables