The ethical pressures that criminal justice organizations face differ considerably from the ones facing private businesses and other public institutions. Given the amount of authority in the hands of most criminal justice professionals and the potential impact on citizens, it's vital that those working in the criminal justice system understand why ethics are so important.
We sat down with Shane Kelley, EdD, associate dean for Public Safety and Legal Studies programs at Purdue Global, to discuss the reasons ethical behavior is important in the criminal justice system.
Ethics Provide a Framework for Professional Conduct
According to the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, published by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, a law enforcement officer’s fundamental duty is to “serve the community; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the constitutional rights of all to liberty, equality, and justice.”
Because they are in such a prominent position with such weighty influence, they must uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct and act in a manner consistent with the profession’s values and principles.
“Criminal justice professionals are the examples of what it means to be a law-abiding person, to be an ethical person,” says Kelley. “Law enforcement must set the example for integrity. You can't expect someone to follow your lead — especially as it pertains to ethical behavior — when you're not able to follow that behavior yourself.”
Kelley places equity, impartiality, and fairness as the three most important values in the field.
“You have to recognize your own biases and not let them be a weakness,” Kelley says. “It's okay to be passionate about your work but not when that passion causes you to be biased in any way against any group of people. You need to approach any situation with an open mind and heart. You need to be able to harness that passion to be able to act impartially in your interactions.”
Ethics Promote Public Trust
The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin states the following, “Because ethical conduct greatly impacts public trust, law enforcement agencies must closely examine their policies, reward systems, and training to ensure that their agency fosters a culture of firm ethical values.”
Unfortunately, numerous polls confirm that Americans' confidence in police has fallen to new lows:
- A 2023 poll by ABC News and the Washington Post found that 39% of adults believe that police are adequately trained to avoid the use of excessive force; 41% are confident the police treat Black and White people equally. Contrast this with the same 2014 poll, in which 54% of adults believed that police were adequately trained to avoid excessive force, and 52% said the police treat Black and White people equally.
- According to a 2021 poll by Pew Research Center, the percentage of respondents who said they had a “great deal of confidence” in police dropped to 20%. This is a 6 percentage point drop from the same 2020 survey.
- In a 2022 Gallup survey, participants were asked how much confidence they had in the police. Forty-five percent said they had “a great deal/quite a lot,” which is down 6 percentage points from the same survey in 2021.
“Public trust is at an all-time low,” Kelley says. “We're visible to everybody, especially with the prevalence of recording devices and social media videos. If somebody catches you acting unethically, it's not just one person seeing it — it's thousands or possibly millions of people.”
In some communities, the idea that law enforcement was to be trusted by default was once commonplace. Law enforcement’s mistakes get amplified in the newer social media climate, and “that idea that law enforcement should be trusted by default is not there anymore,” Kelley says. “The onus falls on us to rebuild that trust, not the citizenry.”
Ethics Help Ensure the System Is Effective and Efficient
The criminal justice system is composed of various agencies and professionals who must work together. Adhering to ethical behavior helps these agencies work together efficiently, thereby carrying out the missions of the different agencies.
“Good interdepartmental and interagency communication and operations skills are critical,” says Kelley. “Attempting to collaborate in situations where one agency is not operationally effective can negatively impact everyone involved.”
An effective system means greater service to the community and improved public trust.
Grow in Your Career With a Bachelor’s or Master’s in Criminal Justice
If your criminal justice career goals include earning a degree, consider an online bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a master's degree in criminal justice.
Purdue Global's criminal justice degree and certificate programs can prepare you for roles in criminal investigations, law enforcement offices, juvenile detention facilities, court systems, private detection or investigation, and more. All classes are 100% online, so it’s easy to create a study schedule that fits your lifestyle. Reach out today for more information.
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