Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice

Ethical Dilemmas #5

Tyese Wilson

JUS 361: Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice

Northwest BCJ, Cohort t15

June 8,2015

Ethical Dilemmas #5

        Ethics is “the discipline of determining good and evil and defining moral duty” (Pollock, 2014, pg. 6). It would be logical to assume that everyone would have some semblance of ethics; however, it should not be presumed that everyone has the same idea of what is right or wrong or that they have the ability to follow through with their beliefs by acting on them. In my opinion, it is important that when solving ethical dilemmas that one should determine what the consequences are for each course of action and then make the right decision for all involved. It may not be easy to always make the right decisions but I believe that when one follows their moral compass one is happier. The following paper will discuss an ethical dilemma, what this author’s resolution would be, as well as the ethical systems that can be applied to my resolution.

        The hypothetical dilemma that will be discussed within this paper involves me imagining myself as a prison counselor within a co-ed prison and I am concerned about my co-workers treatment of the offenders and for good reason. I have witnessed him scream obscenities at the prisoners and have even witness him pat the behind of a female inmate and say “Be sweet to me and I’ll get you out of here.” The presented facts would lead me to believe whole-heartedly that he is abusing his authority with the prisoners and sexually harassing at least the one, but I would presume that she would not have been his first and only. I would report what I have witnessed, stating only the facts, not mentioning any my suspicions, and I would resign myself to whatever course of action our superior decides. It may be my belief that he is abusing and harassing the inmates but that is only how I perceived the facts, evidence may prove my assumptions wrong.

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