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Criminal Justice Ethics

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Ethics in Criminal Justice

Ethical Dilemma 1: Gun Rally
After receiving a tip regarding a possible unlawful rally being planned, you must decide what the proper course of action is, taking into account your personal support of the mission of the rally, and your duties and obligations to uphold the law.
The proper course of action in this scenario is to assign a subordinate officer to identify the leader or the organizers of the event, and inform them of all of the permit requirements, local ordinances, and laws of the municipality which pertain to public gatherings.
Ethical Dilemma 2: Chief’s Orders

A decision was made to advise other police officers about the anonymous tip. The chief officer on duty advises you to take certain actions which you believe are improper and biased; you are faced with the dilemma of obeying what appears to be an unlawful order.
This scenario requires you to balance between following the order of a superior officer, and performing your own duties in accordance with the oath you took upon being sworn as a police officer. The proper course of action is to do both; follow the orders to the extent that the rally is not allowed, and perform your duty as a public servant.
Ethical Dilemma 3 : Accepting Favors

You discover that an officer from a neighboring police agency you are assigned to work with accepts gratuities on a regular basis; the officer justifies his actions, citing an “agreement” with members of the public. You are faced with the dilemma of ignoring what appears to be an accepted practice versus what is ethically proper.
This scenario requires you to take some sort of action; you are otherwise guilty of inactivity when action is required.
Ethical Dilemma 4: Reporting a Deal
A conversation is overheard between the chief prosecutor and the trial Judge which suggests the possibility of inappropriate

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