Question

Recall your study of the IACP Ethics Toolkit as you consider the following questions. Then, choose ONE question to respond to in an initial discussion board post.
1.    Why does ethics in law enforcement seem to be a bigger issue than in other components of the criminal justice system?
2.    How should a police department ensure ethical behavior if other components of the criminal justice system are not ethical.
3.    What is meant by “noble cause corruption,” and how can police departments guard against it?
4.    Is ethical behavior flexible? Can there be a range of ethical behavior by police officers? Why or why not?

Answer 1

3. Noble cause corruption is an approach to an ethical dilemma that suggests that law enforcement professionals should utilize unethical, and sometimes illegal, means to obtain a desired result. For the noble cause corruption, the end is more important than the means, law enforcement professionals may believe that bending or even breaking the rules to tackle corruption is justified. Following two techniques can help departments guard against its professionals going through a difficult situation:

• Follow Policies and Procedures: When in doubt, especially if the professional is new, they default to these tested and approved guidelines.
• Think Rationally: This maybe obvious but any seasoned professional knows how quickly rationality can be pushed aside by pride, stubborn goals, or adrenaline.