Professionalism and Ethics in Law Enforcement

Concept of Professionalism

• The earliest meaning of professionalism stemmed from religious orders and vows.
• Professionalism was secularized by 1675.
• The Oxford English Dictionary defines "profession" as an occupation requiring skill and training, especially in divinity, law, medicine, and the military.
• Webster's defines "profession" an occupation needing advanced training in a liberal art or science, like teaching, engineering, medicine, law, or theology.
• Professionals claim to know more about their specialty than others, knowing what's best for their clients.
• Law enforcement meets every criterion of a profession, even though officers aren't always seen as professionals.
• A profession involves specialized knowledge gained through education/training.
• Professions require a commitment to public service and the common good.
• Professions have a code of ethics that demands a higher standard of behavior.

Characteristics of Professionalism

• Service to others, putting community needs first.
• Assessing others' needs, showing empathy.
• A theoretical knowledge base is obtained, requires ongoing education.
• Adherence to standards for behavior and ethical conduct.
• Maintenance of standards by professional associations.
• Continued learning and adaptation.

Police Legitimacy and Procedural Justice

• Police legitimacy requires public trust, acceptance of authority, and belief in fairness.
• Treating people with respect and dignity is key to building public confidence.
• Officers should make fair decisions based on facts, not race or illegitimate factors.
• Giving people a "voice" involves listening and considering their side of the story.
• Acting with goodwill encourages community trust and cooperation.
• Fairness and consistency in applying rules is the first part of procedural justice.
• Perceptions of fairness rely on both outcomes and the fairness of processes.
• Giving everyone "voice," the chance to be heard, is second pillar of procedural justice.
• Transparency and openness of the process forms the third part of procedural justice.
• Making decisions without secrey and as openly as possible can promote public trust.
• Impartiality and unbiased decision-making is the fourth part of procedural justice.
• Decisions should be based on facts and data, not personal opinions.

Professional Law Enforcement Model

• Misconceptions include viewing professionalism as aloofness, appearance, or tech expertise.
• Some people think of professional athletes as in it for money, which is opposite of amateur.
• Public benefits when the law enforcement is better served.
• Improved quality of peace officers results from professionalism.
• Professional conduct reinforces ethical behavior
• Problem-solving becomes more effective.
• Professional organizations foster greater community support/respect.
• Law enforcement gains a greater ability to innovate.
• Training, higher education, and educational attainment are all advantages to professionalism.
• Departments can foster relationships with local government, community groups, nonprofits, social services, media, and private businesses.
• Engaging in proactive examination of identified issues is key in effective problem solving.
• Scanning is important in identifying/prioritizing problems.
• Proactive and systematic problem solving requires analysis, response, and assessment elements.
• Using the crime triangle is important to focus on immediate conditions
• Organizational transformation aligns management, structure, personnel behind community partnerships.

Law Enforcement Code of Ethics

• Law enforcement organizations often have a strict code of ethics.
• Per the International Association of Chiefs of Police, officer's primary duty is to serve the community, safeguard lives/property, protect the innocent, and respect constitutional rights.
• Officers should maintain a private life above reproach, remain calm, be mindful of others' welfare.
• Officers shouldn't act officiously or with prejudice, and must enforce laws fairly.

Ethical Dilemmas

• Human behavior is influenced by personal values.
• Values change across time, location, and among people.
• The ethical role is to be objective, impartial, and neutral.
• The ethical role reflects beliefs in ethical behavior.
• Officers should conduct daily activities in an objective, unbiased manner.
• Providing assistance/information to all persons is crucial, regardless of personal feelings.
• Fairness, consistency, voice, transparency, and impartiality are important.
• Cornerstones of ethics include trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, caring, fairness, citizenship.
• Behavior ignoring criminal justice goals leads to loss of confidence in system, degrading its legitimacy.
• Ethical conduct should be motivated by personal rewards, virtue, prudence, relationships, and personal faith.
• Ethical behavior depends on consistent judgment.
• Moral sensitivity involves recognizing ethical issues.
• Moral judgment involves properly deciding on correct course of action.
• Moral motivation involves desiring to act ethically.
• Moral character involves courage/discipline to follow through despite pressure. If people obey the law they set an example for others.
• Community members can work for or against ethical behavior.
• Ethical problems must be acknowledged and discussed.
• The way officers interact with the people they serve can improve community relationships.
• An ethical decision-making model asks: Is it legal? Is it permitted? How would it be viewed? Does the personal code of ethics approve? Is it a true ethical dilemma?

Ethics in Relationships and Community Programs

• Relationships can be positive or negative.
• If officers aren't held accountable, the criminal justice system appear unjust to the public.
• Bitter attitudes make unethical actions more/less likely to happen.
• There are different career stages that influence ethical decisions.
• New officers have initial confidence however, their idealism clashes with reality causing fear.
• Overcoming fear leads to potentially negative actions, and possibly defiance that may affect family, society, etc.
• Disappointment can also lead to resignation; the lights go out in their eyes. At this point, officers are most susceptible to poor decision making.
• Self-analysis, also called "Aware," leads to the realization change is needed.
• To be "Decisive" requires consciously doing positive steps on a day-to-day basis.
• This all leads to Commitment the final, best results change attitudes to maintain realism.

Federal Criminal Laws and Sexual Harrassment

• Washington DC controls internal investigations to avoid partiality.
• Conspiracy Against Rights (18 USC 241) involves conspiring to injure, threaten, or intimidate someone that the Constitution protects.
• Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law (18 USC 242) involves subjecting someone to the deprivation of rights/privileges secured by the Constitution because of color, race, etc.
• Officers are accountable for conduct, within and outside the agency.
• Sexual harrassment and EEOC defintions are examples of civil rights defintions to maintain at all times.