Ethics in criminal justice

Ethics in criminal justice.
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Ethics in criminal justice.
Police officers have the power to protect us through their ability to play the public servant role and fighting crime. Concerning their dignity and professionalism, the police wield the most discretion in comparison to other criminal justice professions (Souryal, 2010). Criminal justice ethics are an essential discussion to help understand police attitudes of cynicism and use of force where a threat is perceived. Majority of the police are ethical and honest though they might feel unfairly treated by the media and the public in general as their actions involve harsh scrutiny.
Police as public servants have limited ability to curb crime rates, serving all people including criminals. Their most important function is crime control. The possibility of errors exists as much as there is an insistence on elimination and prevention of mistakes. Direct engagement with the community for proactive crime prevention makes police work more manageable. A failure to enforce the law results in a breakdown of order. Therefore, to achieve their role, police use their authority, persuasion, as sometimes force to overcome resistance.
Formal police ethics are governed by mandatory rules to control conduct which serves as the basis of discipline. There are four themes of law enforcement code of ethics; the principle of fairness and justice, personal behaviour, service, and importance of law. In policing and professionalism, the police should take part in continuing education, specialized knowledge, and legal autonomy for exercising discretionary judgment.

In conclusion, the police are the “army” to protect the society from criminals who are the “enemy.” Decentralized operations and citizen initiatives help them fight crime and serve the public efficiently.

ReferenceSouryal, S. S. (2010). Ethics in criminal justice: In search of the truth. Routledge.