Example Of An Ethical Dilemma Using Concepts From Your Requi

Example Of An Ethical Dilemmausing Concepts From Your Required Reading

Example of an ethical dilemma using concepts from your required readings and one outside source, please respond to the following questions: · Identify a current ethical dilemma in criminal justice that may affect law enforcement, courts, and corrections. · What makes this an ethical dilemma? Who is impacted by it? · What are your suggestions for approaching this dilemma according to deontology, Kantian, or virtue ethics? Criminal justice for this purpose is a broad term and can encompass any related area, including civil rights, or any aspect of the courts, police, corrections, or community justice. Your paper should be 2-3 pages in length (not including title or reference pages), double spaced, and conform to (including in-text citations and properly formatted references). Include at least two peer-reviewed scholarly references and from the course textbook.

Paper For Above instruction

The ethical landscape of criminal justice is frequently fraught with dilemmas that challenge practitioners’ moral compasses while impacting diverse stakeholders. One prominent current ethical dilemma involves the policing practices related to racial profiling. This issue has gained renewed attention amidst ongoing discussions on social justice and civil rights, highlighting its complex ethical implications across law enforcement, courts, and correctional systems. Racial profiling, defined as law enforcement’s reliance on race or ethnicity to determine suspicion of criminal activity, raises profound questions about justice, equality, and constitutional rights, thus vividly illustrating an ethical dilemma.

What renders racial profiling an ethical dilemma is the conflict between the goals of effective law enforcement and the constitutional protections against discrimination. On one hand, police agencies argue that such practices are necessary for crime prevention and national security. On the other hand, racial profiling infringes upon individuals’ rights to equal treatment under the law, often leading to mistrust and community alienation. The disparity in treatment disproportionately impacts marginalized communities, eroding social cohesion and undermining the legitimacy of law enforcement institutions. Furthermore, courts face the challenge of balancing public safety with citizens' civil liberties, making this a quintessential ethical quandary.

Approaching this dilemma through the lens of deontological ethics, particularly Kantian ethics, suggests that actions in law enforcement must adhere to moral duties rooted in respect for individuals as ends in themselves. Kantian ethics emphasizes treating individuals with dignity, which racial profiling violates by using race as a criterion for suspicion rather than individual behavior. Therefore, law enforcement should adhere to principles of fairness and nondiscrimination, automating respect for constitutional rights. Virtue ethics, focusing on moral character, also advocates for qualities such as justice, integrity, and fairness. Police officers and policymakers should cultivate these virtues, fostering trust and accountability, and ensuring their actions promote the moral ideals of a just society.

From an external scholarly perspective, studies have shown that reliance on race-based profiling can undermine community trust, reduce cooperation with law enforcement, and undermine efforts to combat crime effectively (Gill et al., 2014). Recognizing these adverse outcomes underscores the importance of ethical approaches rooted in respect for human dignity and constitutional protections. Policies grounded in virtue ethics and Kantian principles could include comprehensive training about implicit biases, strict oversight, and the development of community policing strategies that foster mutual respect.

In conclusion, racial profiling exemplifies a significant ethical dilemma in contemporary criminal justice, impacting individuals’ rights and societal perceptions of justice. Approaching this issue through deontological and virtue ethics provides a moral framework for fostering fairness, respect, and integrity in law enforcement practices. Ultimately, aligning policies with these ethical principles can promote a more equitable and trustworthy justice system that upholds constitutional protections and societal moral standards.

References

• Gill, C., Monroe, T., & Kubrin, C. (2014). Race and policing: An overview of scholarly research. Criminal Justice Studies, 27(2), 161-176.
• Kant, I. (1785). Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. (Trans. Mary Gregor, 1998). Cambridge University Press.
• National Institute of Justice. (2017). Guidelines for Police Conduct and Ethical Policing.
• Goldsmith, A. (2010). The conflict between police and minority communities: Ethical considerations. Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology, 100(4), 987-1020.
• Fritsche, J., & Auffenberg, J. (2017). Ethical challenges in law enforcement: A review. Police Quarterly, 20(3), 271-294.