Human Dignity and Vulnerable Agency: An Ethical Framework for Forensic Practice

• NCJ Number: 226857
• Journal: Aggression and Violenct Behavior: A Review Journal Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: March/April 2009 Pages: 94-105
• Author(s): Tony Ward; Kendra Syversen
• Date Published: April 2009
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper presents an integrated ethical framework that covers the different levels of ethical tasks inherent in forensic and correctional work.

Abstract

The integrated ethical framework presented in this paper is intended to help both researchers and practitioners to think about ethical issues in a more integrated and effective way. Although individuals may have committed serious crimes and harmed innocent members of the community, their inherent dignity obligates practitioners to work with them in a respectful manner. Obligations and accountability go hand-in-hand with entitlements and moral standing. There are no easy answers to the questions of how best to ethically work with offenders and what are the most appropriate ways of managing practitioners’ responsibilities to the community and the offenders themselves. There is minimal guidance in the professional ethics literature concerning forensic and correctional ethical issues. The aim of this paper is to provide a theoretical set of tools to aid practitioners to resolve concrete ethical issues in forensic practice. First, an overview of the ethical frameworks and its component notion of human dignity are presented. Second, an in-depth analysis is conducted of the concept of dignity and its relationship to normative theories and ethical concepts relevant for forensic practitioners. Third, the capacity of the conceptions of human dignity and vulnerable agency to integrate principles typically contained in ethical codes and practice are explored. Fourth, how conflict between ethical codes or duties of station adhered to by practitioners can be effectively addressed in light of the model of dignity and agency are discussed. Lastly, an explanation is offered on how individuals’ specific ethical judgments and actions should proceed in light of the integrated ethical framework model. Figure and references