Ethics
Ethics is a whole term used by individuals to explain people’s ways of being, personally, and how they act or behave. Ethics is used in many discussions trying to prove things done. If they’re good or bad based on their emotions, reasoning, and beliefs, these three play a crucial part in making decisions at work or any other place. Ethics is practiced everywhere through how you speak, how you act, and how you treat others. It has now been used in many professions. People have come to appreciate the whole idea of ethics, not only at home but also in institutions and organizations. One of the Organizations being Criminal Justice. It is one of the most prominent organizations set to serve and protect its community with everything they have. How can a big organization like Criminal Justice with large areas like Police and the courts offer quality services to the public without any hardships? That’s where good management comes in. As much as managing and running an organization is difficult and challenging, good leadership is critical and essential to both the organization and the public. Hanson (1986) the ability to manage is associated with the progress and continuation that an organization achieves. So for the Criminal Justice to perform its work efficiently, Ethics must be a key and talking and discussing it should be a priority. The question, when you find Police officers receiving minor gratitude, is that considered ethical or unethical?
According to the law, receiving little gratitude is considered a felony, which is punishable by the state prison to one or more years, so it is not permitted to accept little gratitude. But I believe that receiving can be viewed from a different perspective. Some of the little gratitude comes from a person’s hearts, appreciating what the police officers. For instance, if you had an emergency, say house fire, dialed 911, and a police officer responded to the emergency call or happens to be around the neighborhood and saves your life. At some point, you’ll feel like you owe him your life. So going out and giving minor gratitude to him is a sign of being thankful for everything personally. I won’t categories that as a bribe of any kind. Ethics, either negatively or positively, is associated with emotions, which may be related to reasoning. May either provide a foundation for either making the right decision or finding a completely wrong decision. Since ethics affect an organization, why are they considered to be very important in an organization for what reasons?
As said, Criminal justice is one of the most prominent organizations surrounding us. Police officers have so much influence in our society; they are the law enforcers. They are the ones you call in case of an emergency; they control traffic; they are the ones who make patrols within the community, keeping people safe, they have the ability to jail you or decide to let you go with a mere warning. With such power, regulations on not to abuse power given to them are judged through ethics. Ethics in Criminal Justice bring about a sense of values, practices, purpose, goals, and visions guide them. Reminding them about their motto, “To Protect and to Serve.” Applying to everyone in the community irrespective of their gender or color.
Their integrity is in question, the fact that they had a discussion clearly shows the thought of accepting minor gratitude. With integrity comes the courage to do what you think is right according to your own beliefs. Not affected by what someone will say or do to you, let you be the honorable one by sticking to your values and principles. And since a test of integrity arises from the position you are in, what you do next describes your personality as either honorable or hypocritical.
Loyalty is also one of the critical ethical principles to have in an organization. Loyalty lies close to trust. Trust is vital in an organization. If people don’t trust you, then whatever you say won’t matter. When people say that trust is earned, they didn’t lie. Meaning it is one of the most crucial parts of the relationship between an employer and his employees. Like what Brian Tracy said, “Trust and integrity holds the relationship between the leader and the one being led.”
Leadership is key. In an organization, for one to be considered a leader, they must have the attributes of being a leader, having and not having ethics and principles differentiating between the two. A leader should always practice what they teach philosophy. Police officer mostly goes out on a “ride along” with his or her superior. From the scenario, the discussion already shows a characteristic of a failed leader. So which principle would help curb the problem?
Integrity will be my number one principle to beat such a problem since integrity is a term that describes a person guided by ethical principles and not afraid to do what they know is right or morally acceptable. Without caring, what others would say about their opinions can help curb the problem.
An Agency or an organization full of people with loyalty and trust attracts people knowing that everything they do is to serve its customers and its community. In return, bring good reputation, recognition, and respect to the organization. All of these because of their services provided by the individuals in the organization.
Leadership is also an ethical principle that affects how an Agency performs. Most managers face many challenges in their positions, from making critical decisions to problems to coming up with the best goals and coming up with policies and procedures to tackle problems. A dependable leader is really important, so the lack of a good leader can lead to more problems in the Agency. Simultaneously, a good leader brings motivation, unity, and trust in the organization and the outside environment.
As a leader having a motivated team behind you is everyone’s prayer. The truth is that everything starts with you. Setting a good example to the young, old, experienced, or inexperienced staff is one of the best ways. When you can learn from the best with all of a leader’s qualifications, it is the best way to learn and grow oneself and everyone around you. All of this makes the team believe in you. Soon the leader’s goals and missions become the teams’ leading to progress, for example, learning about personal growth from a well-known figure like Vishen Lakhiani, seeing how positive and passionate he is with what he teaches. Attracts more people to learn from him, while individuals from his organization will be motivated to work for him and achieve the set goals.
Education. Educating individuals about the importance of Ethics and principles in an organization is significant. Teaching them about the benefits and the consequences that ethics can have on an organization. All of this changes their views about many things in their lives and the Agency or organization. The staff should have well-described goals for the organization. They should share common visions, mission, and values and principles that guide them to tackle and solve the organization’s problems. While showing their cultures abided.
Rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to be followed in an organization are also really important. People should know that some policies like say getting drunk in the workplace is prohibited. The rules help install some written expectations that the staff should know that the organization expects them to act or perform things in a certain way.
A good example of how Ethics affect our daily lives is at home. When children grow up, they learn from their mothers, fathers, and their surroundings. In case they learn from a parent who doesn’t value all the ethical principles that shape our lives. Problems start arising; you find children insulting and cursing one another because of what they observe from home. That’s where the phrase charity begins from home by Sir Thomas Browne (1642) came about. Setting a good example for people around us does not occur in business and organization, but rather anywhere we are.
Trust and loyalty go hand in hand, not only in organizations. For instance, in romantic relationships, for it to succeed, trust has to go both ways. Anne Böckler-Raettig said that trust is a major key component. She continues to say that trust is measured and seen to be an investment of time and money. So, trust and loyalty is a significant part of a successful relationship.
Another good example is the Atlantic Police, which values ethics above all. In research by Angela Rozas and Mary Owen, Tribune reporters reported that their core values were courage, professionalism, integrity, and commitment. (March 19, 2008).
It can be concluded that Ethics plays a crucial role in our society, but people tend to ignore the obvious. Ethics and principle define a person’s character. It brings a sense of goals and ambitions in an organization. Most importantly, Ethics should be essential in the Criminal Justice to get back the trust lost between the Criminal Justice and the community.