Contemporary issues affecting ethical decision-making in criminal justice

Running head: ETHICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PRIVATE SECURITY 1

ETHICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PRIVATE SECURITY 1

Ethical Decision Making in Criminal Justice and Private Security Traditionally, the scope of ethics in criminal justice was limited to a narrow range, which only comprised a few mid-level and existent ethical issues faced within the significant criminal justice institutions including the courts, the police, and the correction department (Kleinig, 2008). Given this narrow perspective, criminal justice ethics emphasized the issues precipitated by the institutions mentioned above. However, from a broader perspective, criminal justice ethics includes concerns related to the fundamentals of the criminal justice system (Kleinig, 2008). Various contemporary issues continue to affect the ethical decision-making process by personnel in the criminal justice system today. Despite these problems, the public maintains certain expectations to be met by such structures. Contemporary Issues Affecting Ethical Decision-making by Criminal Justice Personnel The effects of social media are far-reaching especially when resolving challenges in the criminal justice system. Potential jurors have been prejudiced by plaintiff attorneys who publicize cases on social media. Some law enforcement agencies also take to networking sites to cover the actions of personnel under scrutiny and consequently obstructing justice (Lacher, 2014). Another major contemporary issue affecting ethical decision making by staff in criminal justice systems is bribery and corruption. These individuals are often large payoffs to downplay criminal cases (Pollock, 2016). The rate at which corruption is plaguing justice systems is on the rise. One of the possible explanations for this phenomenon is the lack of motivation among officers in the system. Additionally, many criminal justice institutions today get much interference from external forces such as persons in positions of influence. Consequently, the independence of these organs is compromised and their personnel tend to make skewed decisions because of caving into the mounting pressure (Shahidullah, 2014). Public Expectations of the Criminal Justice System Foremost, the public expects all players in the criminal justice system to observe the law strictly (Bouza, 2013). The society demands ultimate accountability from the criminal justice system and its personnel (White Paper on Crime Unit, 2011). Imperatively, these individuals should be appropriately collaborative with the members of the community and other relevant organs in executing their mandate. The public also prioritizes competency and proficiency in the entire justice system. Personnel in such institutions should have the appropriate skills to enable them to perform their duties efficiently. These individuals are not only expected to be useful but also proactive. Preventing crime should be their primary objective instead of reacting long after the damage has been done. Accordingly, they should apply practical knowledge and research and embrace appropriate problem-solving approaches. At the crux of the society’s expectations for the criminal justice system are integrity and impartiality. These agencies’ personnel are expected to be protectors and defenders of human rights (Ashworth, Emmerson & Macdonald, 2012). Additionally, they should be courteous and respectful to enhance their approachability. The law enforcers are required to practice restraint in the course of duty while embracing servant leadership to influence other members of the community to uphold morality. Reasons for the Expectations The consideration of the expectations outlined above is critical to the efficient operation of criminal justice systems assertion of their legitimacy (Bottoms & Tankebe, 2012). To the public, these systems and institutions should be impeccable or almost blameless. This is because the people need to be confident in their organizations and gain trust in the individuals mandated with guaranteeing and preserving justice. Moreover, the public has to ensure that the systems in place can efficiently deal with crime with minimal hitches. Most importantly, most people need to be prompted to act. Therefore, with criminal justice systems on the lead in the pursuit of ethic excellence, members of the public are also likely to behave morally as their legal systems offer a sense of direction. Conclusion Ethics form the basis of criminal justice systems. However, many contemporary issues including social media, bribery, lack of motivation, and external interferences plague modern criminal justice personnel leading them to make unethical decisions. Despite these challenges, the public still maintains its expectations of criminal justice systems. From the society\\\\\\\'s view, these structures should exemplify the highest ethical standards to enhance the confidence and trust of the people in them. Additionally, these systems should act as an example to guide members of the public towards living moral and crime-free lives.