1 Ethics and Integrity Dr. Laura B. Myers Developer and Facilitator College of Criminal Justice Sam Houston State University
2 5 Goals for Exploring Ethics b Become more aware and open to moral and ethical issues. b Begin developing critical thinking and analytical skills. b Become more personally responsible.
3 5 Goals for Exploring Ethics b Understand how criminal justice is engaged in a process of coercion. b Develop wholesight.
4 3 Contexts for Understanding Justice, Crime and Ethics b Personal b Social b Criminal b Criminal Justice
5 What Is Ethics? b Knowing b Knowing the difference between right and wrong b Deciding b Deciding to do the right thing under pressure b Assume b Assume people are trying to do their best b Ethical b Ethical issues are not clear-cut
6 The Slippery Slope b Contingencies b Moral Experiences b Apologia b Stages
7 The Resolution... b Training b Modeling b Reinforcement b Use of reality
8 Becoming a Police Officer b Choice to become a police officer. b Introduction to policing. b Encountering the reality. b The metamorphosis.
9 The Reality of Law Enforcement b Discretion b Low-visibility discretionary decision making b Numerous b Numerous laws, rules, and policies b Threats b Threats to safety b Authority
10 An Ethical Crisis b Misuse of funds b Abuses of authority b Winning at all costs b Using people as a means to an end b Making ourselves an exception b Not recognizing an ethical trap
11 More Examples b Political b Political leaders b Lawyers b Law b Law enforcement officers b Clergy b Medical b Medical doctors b Others?
12 The Integrity Image b Role models? b Commitment b Trust b Karma b Do these things exist in law enforcement?
13 Workplace Impact b Decrease in morale b Breakdown in chain of command b Burn-out b Grievances & lawsuits b Loss of productivity b Damage to image & reputation
14 Perceptions b The role of law enforcement. b Crime control b Due process b Public opinion
15 Individual Impact b Not efficient b An organizational liability b Not a team player b Damage to career b Damage to future b Unfit role model
16 The Institutions that Teach Values & Morals b Family b School b Church b Media b Do people recognize these influences on their choices?
17 An Ethical Population? b Cheating b Cheating in school in sports in business
18 Ethical Conflict Resolution? b The Golden Rule b Recognizing differences b Recognizing human feelings b Recognizing the sanctity of human life
19 Can We Improve? b Is it possible to teach people values and morals? b What if they already know what is right and wrong? b Need to teach people how to recognize the trap of an ethical dilemma
20 Tools People Can Use
21 Remembering Character b What is character? b How can it be used in law enforcement? b Being conscious of character
22 The Six Pillars of Character
23 [1] Trustworthiness b Honesty b Integrity b Promise keeping b Loyalty
24 [2] Respect
25 [3] Responsibility b Accountability b Pursuit of excellence b Self-restraint
26 [4] Justice and Fairness
27 [5] Caring
28 [6] Civic Virtue and Citizenship
29 Moral Development b Premoral Level b Conventional Level b Post-Conventional Level
30 Character and Decision-making b The b The greatest good b Duty b Karma b Caring b Being b Being mindful b That b That inner voice b An b An Ethics Check
31 An Ethics Check b Is it legal? b Is it balanced? b How will it make me feel about myself?
32 Inner Strength b Living by principles b Acting consistently b Striving to be fair
33
34 The Five Principles b Purpose b Pride b Patience b Persistence b Perspective
35 Principles of a Morally Good Person b Just b Truthful b Trustworthy b Moral courage b Moral autonomy b Benevolence
36 In the Workplace b Application of law b Use of authority b Due Process b Meeting your goals… b Humans have intrinsic value
37 Pressures in the Workplace b Productivity b Solving b Solving a bad problem during a crisis b Doing b Doing your job
38 Inner Strength b Practice b Seek advice b Realize this will not be easy b Don’t take yourself for granted
39 Outer Strength b An organizational value b Walk the walk, talk the talk b Training b Modeling b Discussion b Nip it in the bud
40 The Reality of Law Enforcement Ethics
41 Dr. Laura B. Myers College of Criminal Justice Sam Houston State University Huntsville, Texas (409) THE END