Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice

Name: Maryssa Clark

Institution: DeVry University

Date: 7/30/2016

Criminal Justice

Ethical standards provide a guideline for the conduct of any officer working in the criminal justice system. Professional ethics are essential in the implementation of the law because proper conduct from the law enforcer makes the law dependable (Braswell, McCarthy & McCarthy, 2014). The values govern the law enforcement officer in his interactions with the offenders of the law, influence them in the process of decision-making and determine how they interpret the law. Police officers are among the criminal justice officers. They respond promptly to illegal activities, make life and death decisions often in a nick of time, and obtain credible legal evidence for the prosecution of a criminal. Therefore, upholding the principles for a police officer is a matter of great importance.

The College of Policing (2014) enumerates and discusses ten standards of professional behaviour for police officers in detail. Honesty and integrity top the list of the ethics. The police officer is expected to do the right thing at all times without compromise. He is also supposed to give truthful information, even though there is a degree of discomfort on his part in divulging the valuable information. Authority, respect and courtesy are also very vital components of the police officer’s profession. He or she must be able to exercise temperament while discharging his duties. Treating the members of the public and suspects with self-control and respect us very crucial for winning the trust of the public, therefore improving the strained relationship between the public and the police officers. Following orders and instructions is another ethical pillar in the law enforcement profession. The police officer is expected to give and carry out orders that are lawful, and should strictly abide by the Police Regulations (Harfield, 2012). These three of the ten standards of professional...