Ethics, Integrity, & Professionalism

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Ethics and Ethics and IntegrityIntegrity

Dr. Laura B. MyersDr. Laura B. MyersDeveloper and FacilitatorDeveloper and Facilitator

College of Criminal JusticeCollege of Criminal Justice

Sam Houston State UniversitySam Houston State University

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5 Goals for Exploring 5 Goals for Exploring EthicsEthics

Become more aware and open to Become more aware and open to moral and ethical issues.moral and ethical issues.

Begin developing critical thinking Begin developing critical thinking and analytical skills.and analytical skills.

Become more personally Become more personally responsible.responsible.

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5 Goals for Exploring 5 Goals for Exploring EthicsEthics

Understand how criminal justice Understand how criminal justice is engaged in a process of is engaged in a process of coercion.coercion.

Develop wholesight.Develop wholesight.

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3 Contexts for 3 Contexts for Understanding Justice, Crime Understanding Justice, Crime and Ethicsand Ethics

PersonalPersonal SocialSocial Criminal JusticeCriminal Justice

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What Is Ethics?What Is Ethics?

Knowing the difference Knowing the difference between right and between right and wrongwrong

Deciding to do the right Deciding to do the right thing under pressurething under pressure

Assume people are Assume people are trying to do their besttrying to do their best

Ethical issues are notEthical issues are notclear-cutclear-cut

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The Slippery SlopeThe Slippery Slope

ContingenciesContingencies Moral Moral

ExperiencesExperiences ApologiaApologia StagesStages

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The Resolution...The Resolution...

TrainingTraining ModelingModeling ReinforcementReinforcement Use of realityUse of reality

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Becoming a Police Becoming a Police OfficerOfficer

Choice to become Choice to become a police officer.a police officer.

Introduction to Introduction to policing.policing.

Encountering the Encountering the reality.reality.

The The metamorphosis.metamorphosis.

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The Reality of Law The Reality of Law EnforcementEnforcement

DiscretionDiscretion Low-visibility Low-visibility

discretionary discretionary decision makingdecision making

Numerous laws, Numerous laws, rules, and policiesrules, and policies

Threats to safetyThreats to safety AuthorityAuthority

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An Ethical CrisisAn Ethical Crisis

Misuse of fundsMisuse of funds Abuses of authorityAbuses of authority Winning at all costsWinning at all costs Using people as a means to an Using people as a means to an

endend Making ourselves an exceptionMaking ourselves an exception Not recognizing an ethical trapNot recognizing an ethical trap

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More Examples More Examples

Political leadersPolitical leaders LawyersLawyers Law enforcement Law enforcement

officersofficers ClergyClergy Medical doctorsMedical doctors Others?Others?

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The Integrity ImageThe Integrity Image

Role models?Role models? CommitmentCommitment TrustTrust KarmaKarma Do these things exist in law Do these things exist in law

enforcement?enforcement?

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Workplace ImpactWorkplace Impact

Decrease in moraleDecrease in morale Breakdown in chain of Breakdown in chain of

commandcommand Burn-outBurn-out Grievances & lawsuitsGrievances & lawsuits Loss of productivityLoss of productivity Damage to image & Damage to image &

reputationreputation

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PerceptionsPerceptions

The role of law The role of law enforcement.enforcement.

Crime controlCrime control Due processDue process Public opinionPublic opinion

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Individual ImpactIndividual Impact

Not efficientNot efficient An organizational liabilityAn organizational liability Not a team playerNot a team player Damage to careerDamage to career Damage to futureDamage to future Unfit role modelUnfit role model

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The Institutions that The Institutions that Teach Values & Teach Values & MoralsMorals

FamilyFamily SchoolSchool ChurchChurch MediaMedia Do people recognize these Do people recognize these

influences on their choices?influences on their choices?

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An Ethical An Ethical Population?Population?

Cheating in schoolCheating in school Cheating in sportsCheating in sports Cheating in Cheating in

businessbusiness

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Ethical Conflict Ethical Conflict Resolution?Resolution?

The Golden RuleThe Golden Rule Recognizing differencesRecognizing differences Recognizing human feelingsRecognizing human feelings Recognizing the sanctity of Recognizing the sanctity of

human lifehuman life

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Can We Improve?Can We Improve?

Is it possible to teach people Is it possible to teach people values and morals?values and morals?

What if they already know what What if they already know what is right and wrong?is right and wrong?

Need to teach people how to Need to teach people how to recognize the trap of an ethical recognize the trap of an ethical dilemmadilemma

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ToolsToolsPeople Can UsePeople Can Use

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Remembering Remembering CharacterCharacter

What is character?What is character? How can it be used in law How can it be used in law

enforcement?enforcement? Being conscious of characterBeing conscious of character

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The Six Pillars of The Six Pillars of CharacterCharacter

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[1] Trustworthiness[1] Trustworthiness

HonestyHonesty IntegrityIntegrity Promise keepingPromise keeping LoyaltyLoyalty

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[2] Respect[2] Respect

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[3] Responsibility[3] Responsibility

AccountabilityAccountability Pursuit of excellencePursuit of excellence Self-restraintSelf-restraint

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[4] Justice and [4] Justice and FairnessFairness

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[5] Caring[5] Caring

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[6] Civic Virtue and [6] Civic Virtue and CitizenshipCitizenship

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Moral DevelopmentMoral Development

Premoral LevelPremoral Level Conventional LevelConventional Level Post-Conventional LevelPost-Conventional Level

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Character and Character and Decision-makingDecision-making

The greatest The greatest goodgood

DutyDuty KarmaKarma CaringCaring Being mindfulBeing mindful That inner voiceThat inner voice An Ethics CheckAn Ethics Check

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An Ethics CheckAn Ethics Check

Is it legal?Is it legal? Is it balanced?Is it balanced? How will it make me feel about How will it make me feel about

myself?myself?

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Inner StrengthInner Strength

Living by principlesLiving by principles Acting consistentlyActing consistently Striving to be fairStriving to be fair

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The Five PrinciplesThe Five Principles

PurposePurpose PridePride PatiencePatience PersistencePersistence PerspectivePerspective

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Principles of a Principles of a Morally Good PersonMorally Good Person

JustJust TruthfulTruthful TrustworthyTrustworthy Moral courageMoral courage Moral autonomyMoral autonomy BenevolenceBenevolence

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In the WorkplaceIn the Workplace

Application of lawApplication of law Use of authorityUse of authority Due ProcessDue Process Meeting your goals…Meeting your goals… Humans have intrinsic valueHumans have intrinsic value

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Pressures in the Pressures in the WorkplaceWorkplace

ProductivityProductivity Solving a bad Solving a bad

problem during a problem during a crisiscrisis

Doing your jobDoing your job

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Inner StrengthInner Strength

PracticePractice Seek adviceSeek advice Realize this will not be easyRealize this will not be easy Don’t take yourself for grantedDon’t take yourself for granted

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Outer StrengthOuter Strength

An organizational valueAn organizational value Walk the walk, talk the talkWalk the walk, talk the talk TrainingTraining ModelingModeling DiscussionDiscussion Nip it in the budNip it in the bud

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The Reality of Law The Reality of Law Enforcement EthicsEnforcement Ethics

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Dr. Laura B. MyersDr. Laura B. MyersCollege of Criminal JusticeCollege of Criminal Justice

Sam Houston State UniversitySam Houston State UniversityHuntsville, Texas 77341Huntsville, Texas 77341

(409) 294-1654(409) 294-1654

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