Ethics play a significant role in criminal justice because norms govern the conduct of law enforcement officers. The lack of ethical grounds for the behavior of criminal justice officials makes the application of the law unreliable. In the profession of a juvenile correctional officer, an ethical attitude is important since adherence to its principles determines the fair, sympathetic and respectful treatment of offenders. (Schmalleger, 2016). The ethics of criminal justice is based on several ethical theories. One of the main theories is based on human rights and states that people are endowed with rights by fact of birth (Schmalleger, 2016). Utilitarianism represents the concept that right from wrong is distinguished by the result of an action (Schmalleger, 2016). Deontological theory, on the contrary, says that it is necessary to focus not on consequences but on motives (Schmalleger, 2016). The ethical theory of virtue suggests that people should focus on what kind of people they can imitate when choosing an ethical action.
As an employee of a juvenile correctional colony, I will be guided by the principles of the ethical theory of deontology. This ethical concept proposes to focus not on the result of an act but on what prompts people to make right or wrong choices. Deontology is important to criminal justice because it provides motivation for change by judging not the act but the causes (Williams, 2022). Criticism of deontology can consider a black-and-white division into right and wrong and take into account only personal reasons, not the impact on society. However, I believe that deontological theory will allow me to treat offenders more fairly since I will understand the causes of the crime.
An example of the application of deontological theory in the work of a juvenile correctional officer can be the resolution of conflicts between offenders. For example, if a quarrel occurs between offenders, the reasons for this incident and the motives of the parties must be taken into account. In this case, it will be possible to find the real motive for what happened, fairly resolve the conflict, and prevent it in the future. In addition, the guidance of ethics will help to form a benevolent attitude towards offenders. For example, if a person who commits a murder ends up in a colony, it is important to understand its causes: psychological characteristics or the difficulty of socialization. This will allow me to experience genuine empathy and motivate offenders to change.
The rights of juvenile offenders must be protected using ethical and legal standards. These arguments in the work will be provided with equal disgust, prohibition of discrimination and creation of proper conditions for personal changes. Respectful and dignified treatment of offenders will be a consequence of the feeling of attachment to the deeds performed. A similar view can be achieved by accepting juvenile delinquents as individuals rather than as people who have committed a crime. My moral standards and legal obligations cannot be compromised as I am confident in right and legitimate attitudes and judgments. These guarantees are backed by ethical standards, continuous education and strict compliance with the law.
In conclusion, ethics is an integral part of the concept of criminal justice, forming the basis for the activities of workers in this field. Violation of ethical standards undermines fairness and can destroy the essence of the investigation process. One of the ethical theories applicable to criminal justice is deontology. This theory suggests judging not by the act itself but by the reason for its commission. This approach provides a respectful attitude towards juvenile offenders.
References
Schmalleger, F. (2016). Criminal Justice Today: An Introductory Text for the 21st Century, 16th edition. Pearson.
Williams, G. (2022). What is fundamental in criminal law?Criminal Justice Ethics, 41(3), 278-290. Web.