NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

Professional Ethics in Law Enforcement and Security Management

CSS 442

1. Write short notes on the following:

a. Normative ethics is fundamental to ethical decision making in the criminal justice system.
b. Ethical relativism is moral right and wrong, but contend that what is right for one person
or culture may be wrong for another.
c. Cultural relativism is a form of relativism that claims that moral beliefs and practices
vary from culture to culture. 3.5marks
d. Ethical absolutism believes there exists an eternal and unchanging moral law, the same
for all people, at all times and places 3.5marks
e. Ethical pluralism believes that in most situations there are many truths rather than one
single truth. 3.5marks

2. With the aid of diagram, explain the internal-external structures within the context of
community trust-building.17.5marks
3. Mention seven (7) Law enforcement code of conducts and relate it to the everyday
conducts of the Nigerian Police Force, showing their level of practicability.17.5marks

i. The International Association of Chiefs of Police: All law enforcement officers must be fully
aware of the ethical responsibilities of their position and must strive constantly to live up to the
highest possible standards of professional policing.
ii. Primary Responsibilities of a Police Officer: A police officer acts as an official representative of
government who is required and trusted to work within the law. The officer’s powers and duties
are conferred by statute.
iii. Performance of the Duties of a Police Officer: A police officer shall perform all duties
impartially, without favor or affection or ill will and without regard to status, sex, race, religion,
political belief or aspiration.
iv. Discretion: A police officer will use responsibly the discretion vested in his position and exercise
it within the law. The principle of reasonableness will guide the officer’s determinations, and the
officer will consider all surrounding circumstances in determining whether any legal action shall
be taken.
v. Use of Force: A police officer will never employ unnecessary force or violence and will use only
such force in the discharge of duty as is reasonable in all circumstances.
 vi. Confidentiality: Whatever a police officer sees, hears or learns of that is of a confidential nature
will be kept secret unless the performance of duty or legal provision requires otherwise.
vii. Integrity: A police officer will not engage in acts of corruption or bribery, nor will an officer
condone such acts by other police officers. The public demands that the integrity of police
officers be above reproach.
viii. Cooperation with Other Police Officers and Agencies: Police officers will cooperate with all
legally authorized agencies and their representatives in the pursuit of justice.

4. What are the ethical issues in criminal justice and Public policy? Mention and explain
five (5) of them explicitly.17.5marks

i. The “War on Drugs”

ii. Government policies having implications for criminal justice professionals in issues such
as youth confinement, fingerprinting of juveniles, and compulsory treatment such as
mandatory participation in substance abuse programs or anger management
iii. Capital punishment
iv. The move away from rehabilitative juvenile justice policies toward more punitive
policies
v. Policies involving harsher penalties resulting in “prisoner warehousing”
vi. Government-imposed mandatory sentencing (three-strikes legislation, mandatory
minimum sentences)
vii. Truth in sentencing policies
viii. Increased surveillance of citizens in society

5. (a) What is ethics? 5.5marks

Ethics is a branch of philosophy concerned with the study of questions of right and wrong and how we
ought to live.

(b) Mention and explain eight (8) importance of ethics 12marks

1. Ethical considerations are central to decisions involving discretion, force, and due process that require
people to make enlightened moral judgments.

2. Knowledge of ethics enables a person to question and analyze assumptions that are typically not
questioned in areas of activity like business and politics.

3. The study of ethics increases sensitivity to issues of right and wrong and the right way to conduct
oneself, and aids in identifying acts that have a moral content.

4. Only through studying ethics is it possible to define unethical behaviour. A full understanding of
ethical behaviour demonstrates that it includes not only “bad” or “evil” acts, but also inaction that
allows “bad” or “evil” to occur.
5. It is important to have the capacity to point to moral reasoning in justifying behaviour , and the study
of ethics develops that capacity.

6. It is crucial that ethical decisions are made, and the study of ethics enables the development of tools
that enhance ethical decision making.

7. Training in critical ethics helps to develop analytical skills and reasoning abilities needed to
understand the practical as well as the theoretical aspects of the criminal justice system (Felkenes 1987).

8. Understanding ethics enables an appreciation of the complexities of acts that involve ethical issues
and dilemmas.

9. Without knowledge of ethics, criminal justice professionals may be naïve about moral issues occurring
within the criminal justice system.