NCJ Number
176110
Date Published
1998
Length
459 pages
Annotation
This book examines the role of ethics in the practice of criminal justice, with attention to its role in policing, corrections in prisons, probation, and parole.
Abstract
The author introduces students and practitioners to the fundamentals of ethical theory, doctrines, and controversies, as well as the rules of moral judgment. The reader is exposed to the ways and means of making moral judgments. Knowledge is presented in two forms; first, a thematic perspective examines ethical principles common to all components of the discipline, such as wisdom, goodness, morality, and justice, as well as the vices of deception, racial prejudice, egoism, and misguided loyalties; second, knowledge of ethics is presented from an area-specific perspective that addresses the state of ethics in the fields of police, corrections (prisons), probation, and parole. After a review of the history of ethics in general, with attention to the major philosophers who focused on ethical behavior, the book turns to a discussion of the sources and sanctions of criminal justice ethics. The sources encompass natural law, religious testaments, constitutional provisions, law, professional codes of ethics, and philosophical theories of ethics. A chapter then addresses the "ambivalent reality" of criminal justice management. It considers how the administration of law and justice becomes corrupted by unethical decisions and practices, such that injustice and the abuse of authority is the outcome. The author argues that professional ethics must be the "soul" of the law if the law is to achieve a rational and just end. Separate chapters cover lying and deception in criminal justice, racial prejudice and discrimination, and the abuse of authority. Separate chapters also cover police ethics, corrections ethics (prisons), and the ethics of probation and parole. What can be done to restore ethics in criminal justice is discussed in the final chapter. Chapter references and name and subject indexes