The Importance of Ethics to the Criminal Justice Practitioner
Criminal justice practitioners work in many different areas of the criminal justice system. Each area of specialty has unique reasons why ethics are important to the performance of that particular job. If even one part of the system has an ethical breakdown, the results can create negative ripples in each of the other areas.
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Law Enforcement
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Law enforcement officers are the first point of contact most members of the community have with the criminal justice system. Police officers who abuse their power cause public distrust in the people who are supposed to be there to help them. If police officers base their decisions on unethical criteria, the entire criminal justice system loses credibility; at worst, it can create a state of corruption and/or police brutality.
Officers of the Court
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Officers of the court includes all the attorneys and judges in a jurisdiction. Defense attorneys must vigorously defend their clients while not intentionally misleading the court. Prosecutors should aggressively pursue prosecution, while remembering that a guilty verdict is not a victory if justice is not served. Judges hold the ultimate power in the courtroom; unethical actions by a judge undermine the entire common law system of justice. Most judges are required to attend judicial ethics conferences to ensure that they maintain an impartial attitude on the bench.
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Parole and Probation Officers
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After a person has been sentenced and is no longer in jail, her rehabilitation is overseen by probation and parole officers. These officers determine whether a convicted person is doing what the court has required. If a probation officer alleges a violation, the person might end up back in jail. If the officer does not report violations, the person might go on to reoffend . Probation and parole officers have their own code of ethics; see Reference 2 for the Probation Officer's Code.
Counselors
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Counselors who work with people in the criminal justice system help rehabilitate criminals and help victims handle the emotional aftermath of crime. Counselors who violate the trust of their clients do harm not only to the client, but also to the community.
Juvenile Justice
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Criminal justice practitioners who work in juvenile justice are responsible for setting an example for juveniles with whom they work. Get Legal, a legal information center for juveniles, points out that the purpose of the juvenile justice system is to stop bad behavior before it gets out of hand, by keeping kids out of gangs, providing employment opportunities for youth and helping young people fight addictions. If the practitioners in this area demonstrate unethical behavior, they are setting the kids they work with up for failure.
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References
- Photo Credit Justice image by MVit from Fotolia.com
