Introduction
Recently, the problem associated with police officers lying or falsifying distinct reports has gained attention across the Criminal Justice System. Significantly, the existing ethical dilemma not only interferes with law enforcement integrity but also has broader implications for individuals and society. Thus, this subject`s primary objective is to explore the ethical or moral problem and its effects on the criminal justice system, community, and individual level in aggregation with the potential risks involved. On the other hand, the subject will also address strategies for improvement, including the role of future officers.
The Ethical or Moral Issue
The ethical/moral issue pertains to the trustworthiness and the reliability of the police officials as they lie or fabricate reports. When police officers are involved in lying and making fake records, they undermine the trust and belief in law enforcement (Taylor 813). The stressed behavior loses trust between officers and the community they serve as it violates the norms of fairness, openness, and accountability (Taylor 816). Trust is the foundation on which policing is based, and when it is damaged, the justice system suffers. On the other hand, unlawful reporting may also lead to the misinterpretation of justice, wrongful convictions, unfair verdicts, and further polarization between the police and the public (Taylor 819). Thus, fixing and preventing several ethical breaches within law enforcement is paramount to respect the notions of justice, equality, and law.
Effect on the CRJ system, community, and you
Police lie or incorrect reporting can destroy the Criminal Justice System by producing a wrong conviction, a miscarriage of justice, and a lack of public faith in police departments (Richardson 15). Such systematic loss of trust can spread to other cases, degrading the integrity and working efficiency of the legal system. Furthermore, trust is indispensable in current crime prevention and interaction among law enforcement and the community (Richardson 15). Thus, misconduct from law enforcers can affect the perception of police honesty, which may lead to reduced community trust, fear, and reluctance to cooperate with law enforcement, which impedes achieving public safety (Richardson 15). On the other hand, a mistaken report or dishonesty of a police officer can overturn my life by leading to unfounded arrests, wrongful convictions, and violations of my civil liberties. Such acts can lead to lasting consequences for me, for instance, damage to my reputation, emotional trauma, and reluctance to pursue justice in the future.
Risks/liabilities Involved
Law enforcement officers involved in dishonesty reports should anticipate ruthless legal consequences. The state may entail lawsuits from the individuals affected, departmental disciplinary actions, or, in extreme cases, criminal charges. Such consequences put their careers at risk and erode their reputation as key players within the Criminal Justice System (Murphy 42). Legal sanctions may lead to profound personal and career consequences, such as job loss, deteriorated reputation, and constraints on future work possibilities. Protecting integrity and honesty is an integral part of earning public trust and consequent application of the law fairly and justly. Additionally, dishonest actions by the police may negatively affect the reputation of law enforcement agencies and individual officers, which, in turn, may undermine their credibility and capability to carry out their duties (Murphy 42). Thus, a lying report or dishonesty can damage victims by constituting injustices and reparation, making them doubt the reliability of the Criminal Justice System.
How the CRJ System Can Address and Improve this Issue
Through constant backup, particularly training and educational programs, the Criminal Justice System can develop a comprehensive training system for the officers on ethics, integrity, and the influential role of truthful reporting in the long run to hamper dishonest cases (Boxer, Paul, et al. 505). Besides this, it is beneficial to set up direct systems of accountability through law enforcement agencies, including internal affairs units and police oversight commissions, that will be used to hinder and eliminate police officers lying or fabricating reports (Boxer, Paul, et al. 507). Correspondingly, establishing a culture encompassing honesty, transparency, and accountability among law enforcement officers at the top levels of leadership, as well as through organizational values and peer accountability, can develop ethical behavior in officers.
Role of Future Officers
In my future career as a police officer, personal integrity and ethical conduct will be my priorities, without tolerating dishonest reports. Furthermore, it will be my role to report any existing cases of dishonest reports from police officers through the right channels to promote integrity and accountability of the Criminal Justice System. On the other hand, my ultimate goal will be progressive education and proper training while in the line of duty toward reinforcing ethical behaviors within my working environment. By taking the right steps when addressing more instances of police false reporting, I expect positive results and improved trust. In this case, the ideology toward restoring and enhancing trust across the Criminal Justice System through transparency and accountability is very important.
Conclusion
A complex ethical challenge is presented by police officers falsely lying within the Criminal Justice System, which should not be the case. The impacts could be more pleasing, considering the loss of police integrity, community-police issues, and the exploitation of human rights. However, by addressing the issue, future police officers will likely maintain their professionalism as per the existing ethical standards, ensuring that everything is under excellent control.
Work Cited
Boxer, Paul, et al. “Addressing the inappropriate use of force by police in the United States and beyond: A behavioral and social science perspective.” Aggressive behavior 47.5 (2021): 502-512.
Murphy, Tiffany R. “When Numbers Lie: the Under-reporting of Police Justifiable Homicides.” Berkeley J. Crim. L. 21 (2016): 42.
Richardson, Rashida, Jason M. Schultz, and Kate Crawford. “Dirty data, bad predictions: How civil rights violations impact police data, predictive policing systems, and justice.” NYUL Rev. Online 94 (2019): 15.
Taylor, Paul L. “Beyond false positives: A typology of police shooting errors.” Criminology & Public Policy 18.4 (2019): 807-822.
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