Criminal Justice Administrators, Essay Example

“Actions are judged as ethical or unethical based on the fairness shown to those affected. Fairness may be determined by distributive, procedural, and/or interactional means.” (qtd. Barnett, 2004). The process of decision making is determined by the system. However, there are certain personal factors that might contribute to the final decision made. There is an importance when it comes to ethics and integrity in the criminal justice system. There are a lot of cases where those who are in authority are faced with very hard decisions to make in terms of justice (Pollock, 2008). The most sensationalized news these days are in regards to police brutality or abuses of authority, so most people think that there is no justice within the system. It is very unfortunate that a lot of corruption and abuse of power is plaguing the criminal justice system and is making deviant headlines that sell. The rampant injustice within communities is portrayed in media so well in the form of movies and television shows. This is very sad seeing that there are efforts in trying to establish good conduct in terms of police professionalism that communities can trust. When it comes to police deviance, a lot of, if not all police organizations are trying to fight for good conduct and the respect of police codes amongst their members (Hornett& Fredricks, 2005). It is unfortunate that a very insufficient number of members are holding themselves accountable for following the rule-based system as part of their values. The decision-making process is very structural and societal. This process involves the community, culture and observes group dynamics within certain organizations.

Although, there are ways that people in authority within the criminal justice system apply ethics to their decisions. This is part of the training and education needed for one to hold a position within this system, from policemen to an honorable judge. The most powerful step towards corruption within the criminal justice system, whatever the position of authority may be, can be said to be the neglect of human rights (Pollock, 2008). This is something that is essential even in applied normative ethics.  There are times when liberal of conservative viewpoints of the administrator may affect the decision making process. This follows, of course, the media or publicity that any decision might stir up. Keeping in mind the conservative view point, this is where the belief that the public does well favor incarceration and the death penalty. Whereas, Liberals have other viewpoints. These views affect the administrator in his decisions, both in politics and in public view.

This follows when it comes to ethics within the criminal justice system. If someone is faced with a right-versus-right decision to make, then it would follow that some form of ethics needs to be applied for that person to come up with the right decision. Unfortunately, with a situation like that, someone will end up in the losing end. For most, they would look over the utilitarian view of the situation and choose the one that will benefit the many between the two choices. The many would most likely be the community where the conflict takes part in. It is vital for the one who holds the decision making to learn everything these is to learn when it comes to the situation (Hornett& Fredricks, 2005). This means understanding the conditions and consequences included. All angles must be examined for there to be an educated decision to be made.

It should be remembered that people are embodied by physical laws that are set by man. In the case of the criminal justice system, these laws are set by the state. Laws that are implicated within situations must also be examined and the physical environment of the two in question should also be taken into account and controlled. In general ethics, the relief of any sort of suffering should be sought after as a part of our humanly duties to be compassionate. However, there are times within the system when doing this is not simply the answer.

Along with this, there must be a social structure to be coordinated with (Hornett& Fredricks, 2005). This includes a fair means of communication. Both parties and their testimonies must be heard for the decision to be just and fair. There should be no bias between groups that are involved in the situation. People are generally rational and are supposed to consider abstract concepts. Someone who has the power to decide the best action for the situation should be able to think in terms of categories to be able to make rational choices. Thinking rationally means that there should be little feelings involved with the decision making, and that the best solution must be sought after. Ethics when it comes to the criminal justice system is not all too different from applied normative ethics.

References

Barnett, Tim, and Sean Valentine. “Issue Contingencies and Marketers’ Recognition of Ethical                Issues, Ethical Judgments, and Behavioral Intentions.” Journal of Business Research 57 (2004): 338–346.

Hornett, A., & Fredricks, S. (2005). An empirical and theoretical exploration of disconnections between leadership and ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 59(3), Retrieved from  http://www.jstor.org/stable/25123556

Pollock, J.M. (2008). Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions in Criminal Justice. Wadsworth: Cengage Learning.