Ethics

What is Ethical Absolutism?

The belief that actions are either right or wrong

What is Ethical Relativism?

The belief that actions can be right or wrong depending on the situation

What is the Categorical Imperative?

A moral principle that states you should do things if you think everyone should be able to do the same

What is Utilitarianism?

Ethical theory that says an action is either morally right if it creates the largest amount of well-being for the largest amount of people

What are Care Ethics?

An ethical theory that focuses on other people when making moral decisions

True or False: Care Ethics is compassion-focused

True

What is the Rights Theory?

A theory that says people should have certain rights that must be respected and protected when making moral decisions

What is Ethical Egoism?

A theory that says people should act in ways that promote their own self-interest

What is Psychological Egoism?

A belief that people should always act in their own self-interest even when their actions appear to help others

What is Traditional Authority?

Power or leadership that is accepted because of traditions

What is Charismatic Authority?

Power or leadership that comes from a persons personality and ability to inspire others

What is Legal Authority?

Power or leadership that comes from established laws and positions

What is Discretion in Ethics?

Ability to make a decision based on the circumstances rather than a rule

What are Deontological Ethics?

Theory that says an action is morally right/wrong based on the rules rather than the consequences

What are Virtue Ethics?

Theory that focuses on developing good character traits

What is the Just-War Theory?

Ethical Reasoning and Action used during the war

What are the concepts of Just-War Theory?

• ius ad bellum

  • ius in bello

What is Ius ad bellum?

• Justified

• Sanctioned

• Intentions

• Last Resort

• Proportionality

What is ius in bello?

• Discrimination

• Proportionality

• No Evil Means

  • Prisoners of War

What is the Rotten Apples Theory?

specific individuals are the cause for corruption

What is the Rotten Barrel Theory?

The organizations are causing the corruption through workplace culture

What is the Rotten Orchard Theory?

The community is causing the corruption through societal norms

What is Nobel Cause Corruption?

When officers believe ANY action they take is justified by the just cause they hope to achieve

What is Mill’s Principle?

“interference is only justified to prevent potential harm”

What is the Classic Liberal View?

The belief that individuals should have freedom and limited interference by others and the government in their lives

What is Public Authority?

Enforcement through the government (e.g. officers, prosecutors)

What does Weber say about the government and its use of violence?

“The state claims a monopoly on a legitimate use of violence”

What is the negative side of the use of force?

Dehumanizing for both sides, user and usee

What does force do to situations?

Escalates rather than Resvoles

What does Rousseau say about Authority?

“Authority is respected”

How does the use of force conflict with Rousseau’s View?

Use of force does not make people respect or recognize right

What is the Supreme Courts view on the Use of Force by the Police?

The reasonableness from the perspective of the officer at scene, not retrospectively

What are the Levels of Force used by the Police?

Legal, Normal, Excessive

What is Legal use of Force?

amount necessary to take suspect into custody

What is a Normal use of Force?

amount officers see as necessary

What is an Excessive use of Force?

amount that is illegal and maliciously harmful

What is Abstract Justification?

Explains why an action/belief is morally right by using regular principles

What are Stings by the Police?

opportunities created by the police that induce suspects to commit a crime

What is Entrapment?

When police improperly persuade someone to commit a crime they otherwise wouldn’t have committed

What are some aspects of a non-voluntary confession?

• excessive pressure, manipulation, exhaustion

What are some categories of False confessions?

Voluntary false, coerced-complied, coerced-internalized

What is a Voluntary-False Confession?

confessed but untrue

What is a Coereced-Complied Confession?

When pressured during an interrogation and compliance to escape the situation.

What is a Coerced-Internalized Confession?

pressured into thinking they’ve genuinely committed a crime

What is the Reid Technique?

Interrogation tech. where the accused suspect is offered an “out” if they confess

What is Information Gathering?

Interrogation tech. where the suspect is treated like a witness

What is Strategic Interviewing?

Interrogation Tech. where the interrogation is more intense with witness