Ethics in Law - Research Paper Example

The underlying principle of ethics in law enforcement entails stipulation of responsibilities of a police officer. A police officer is mandated with the responsibility of working within the law. His powers and duties must conform to the provisions of statute that outlines their responsibilities. Their fundamental duties includes serving people, maintaining peace, protecting lives and properties as well as ensuring that there is equality in the service delivery to all citizens (Moore and Perez 11).

Nevertheless, some police officers conduct themselves in unprofessional manner both in their line of duty and while not working. People have a tendency of monitoring every conduct of police officers perhaps because they are expected to lead by example. Any actions that deviate from what they are expected to do, they are criticized and condemned. However, not every conduct of police officers can be well articulated or stipulated in the law. For instance, there has always been a great debate on whether police officers should take gratuities from the public.

However, determination of the ethical issue involved in such a deed goes beyond what law provides. For instance, the issue of the intention of the officer when receiving the gratuity comes in. Some people argue that an officer can accept gratuity from members of the public only if they do not ask for it. Conversely, the issue of human rights and how suspects need to be handled by police officers during arrest has always been contentious. For instance, it has always remained ethical dilemma on what a police officer should do to suspects that resist arrest.

It is apparent that lawyers have always had issues with their clients in regard to their conduct during judicial proceedings. However, law societies have with time provided leadership in legal issues by designing professional standards that governs lawyers. Values have been argued