NCJ Number
99324
Date Published
1984
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article examines ethical issues in entrapment, interrogation, courtroom deception, and narcotics investigations, as well as remedies to unethical police conduct.
Abstract
Entrapment (police-directed behavior that encourages the commission of a crime) would appear to be an example of blatant illegal and unprofessional conduct, but mitigating circumstances may be found in the overall stresses of police work, the emphasis on arrest clearances, and the wish to apprehend an otherwise unarrestable criminal perpetrator. During interrogation, officers may engage in illegal questioning techniques to obtain a confession from a suspect of whose guilt they are certain. In the courtroom, officers may falsify their testimony in order to secure a conviction. Finally, unethical behavior may occur in narcotics investigations as a result of the failure of traditional investigative strategies or because of the considerable financial temptation that may be involved. Four solutions to unethical police conduct are police (1) acknowledging the existence of the problem, (2) making ethical decisions on the basis of considering the consequences of others acting in a similar manner, (3) acting in a manner consistent with prima facie duty (i.e., a given manner unless such actions are overruled by a superior moral obligation) and (4) acting to maintain a constant level of professionalism and permitting no deviation from that standard. Ultimately, only this last remedy provides the best basis for ethical police conduct. Nine references are included.