Criminal Justice System Ethics

Criminal Justice System Ethics

Introduction

Ethics has been reported to be an important branch of philosophy as it answers to the question of what is right and wrong and how people are supposed to live their lives according to the natural law of moral values. Ethics refers to making judgments and decision on the basis of moral values and beliefs by distinguishing between the rights and wrongs or good and bad. Actions and conduct of people may be right or wrong depending upon the moral judgments and decisions of people. Basically by right and wrong we mean qualities or personality aspect of people to be able to decide. The subject of ethics has been further divided into three different branches that are namely metaethics, normative ethics and applied ethics. Metaethics deals with defining and explaining of what actually good and bad means with the help of methods, language and structure. Additionally reasoning is also used for the purpose of interpreting the ethical rules and terms for better understanding of different terminologies used. Normative ethics deals with code of conduct and behavioral attitude of people while applied ethics is related to dealing with and resolving issues related to practical and professional life like medical and law. Ethics in criminal justice system deals with applied ethics and tends to resolve moral problems and issues in the light ethical rules. Ethics is the way to decide and choose among different moral choices and options especially when there is no expressed or stated law for a situation. Singer suggests that in normal and everyday life, ethics are more acceptable not because of the fact that they are based on truth but due to the reason that they help and guide the actions of a person in normal situations of life (Singer 1995).

Discussion

Some authors are of the view point that ethics are too theoretical and impractical to be followed. They are abstract and difficult to be applied to the real life situations that demand for multiple solutions to a single problem or for problems of similar nature. On the other hand some researchers think that there has to be a certain set system of rule and regulations that can assist and guide in situations that are related to moral issues and problems. In situations where there are no rules and principles to guide the person, he unconsciously indulges in emotional thinking processes and uses his personal values, beliefs and instinct to resolve the issue of deal with the situation. Involvement of emotions and personal opinions cannot answer or present a legitimate framework for dealing with moral problems and so it is extremely important to have a well define framework and system of dealing with ethical dilemma and problems of uncertainty. Study of ethics is important as it allows people to make correct ethical judgments and provide them with ability to question and analyze a situation especially when it involves an ethical dilemma and issue. The ability to question the current system of law enhance ...