NCJ Number
114271
Date Published
1989
Length
182 pages
Annotation
Within the framework of the social, psychological, moral, and ethical underpinnings of human behavior in general and justice and law in particular, this text examines critical ethical concerns regarding police, courts, punishment, and corrections.
Abstract
Definitions of ethics and morality are presented, and psychological theories of moral development are reviewed. Components of justice are discussed, including fairness, equality, impartiality, and appropriateness of rewards and punishments. These components are considered as they relate to concepts of distributive and retributive justice. The relation between law and society is discussed in terms of consensus, conflict, and pluralism paradigms. The relationship between morality and law also is considered, and the dilemma of the moral person faced with immoral law is described. A consideration of ethics and the police examines formal ethics, graft and gratitudes, the notion of duty, investigation and interrogation, and the role of training in police ethics. With regard to courts, professional ethics of defense attorneys, prosecutors, and judges are discussed. Rationales and ethical frameworks for punishment are delineated and considered as they apply to the corrections professional. Each chapter provides discussion questions and moral dilemmas. Finally, guidelines are provided for ethical decisionmaking. Index and approximately 150 references.