Ethical Framework For Persuasive Technologies - Research Paper Example

Ethical Framework For Persuasive Technologies Introduction All the way through the history of criminal justice, developing types of punishment, additional rights for lawbreakers, and policing modifications have defined changing traditions, economic conditions, and political ideals. The range of criminal justice ethics is normally interpreted closely in order to take in a variety midlevel and concrete ethical problems in the main institutions of criminal justice, corrections, police, and courts. Research records that the history of criminal justice ethics has gone through fundamental changes, though this has been reliant on different places. In order to have a clear understanding on the history of criminal justice ethics, this paper will critically examine ancient China, Pre-modern Europe, and colonial America. Inclusively, the paper examines various models of fighting crimes, which have been in use over the last years. Throughout history, criminal justice ethics has focused on issues produced by the institutions themselves, for instance the independence of the judiciary, the place of the police discretion, issues of professional ethics, prison overcrowding, and in addition to concerns encountered by criminal justice practitioners (Cole, 2007). Most remarkably, criminal justice ethics over the last years has encompassed ethical issues that emerge with reference to the foundations of the criminal justice system, the ethical restrictions of criminal law, ethical issues that appear in reflections on the nature and causes of criminality, on top of more general ethical issues that encompass particularized expression in the framework of criminal justice, such as those concerning loyalty, human rights, punishment, and impartiality. In any country, freedom is something of great significance. Freedom can therefore be achieved by making sure all citizens have their civil rights guaranteed, and also safeguard them from all forms of criminal activities. In order to achieve this, there is always a constitution and legal procedures through which the freedom is addressed (Smith & Cole, 2006). Today, the major goal behind the obligations of the United States’ justice system against crime has been to maintain order in the society and also enforce the law. As well, it has been a major role for the justice system to protect all citizens from any form of injustice. The history of criminal justice ethics can be brought to our understanding through looking at its development in various continents over the world. The first region to examine its history is through looking at the Ancient China. Enforcement of the law in ancient China was performed by perfect. It is worth contemplating that several perfects were distributed across the country, each having restricted power and employment period. During the rule of Dang Lin Wang in Ancient China, a different judicial system was introduced (Freeman & Stewart, 2006). The new system comprised of perfects who were appointed by magistrates, thus their role was to supervise the civil administration. Sooner or later, the idea of the prefecture system spread to different cultures, for instance Japan and Korea. The history of criminal justice ethics can also be examined through looking at Pre-modern Europe. To the large part, crime was considered a private issue within Ancient Greece and Rome. The Roman Empire used a sensibly effectual enforcement system until the turn down of the empire, although there never existed a real police unit within the city of Rome. Throughout the Middle Ages, punishment and crime were dealt with all the way through trial by ordeal. Compensation to the casualty, referred as wergild defined another common punishment counting for violent crimes (Smith & Cole, 2006). The people who could not have enough money to buy their way out of punishment, unsympathetic penalties comprised several forms of corporal punishment. Such included whipping, mutilation, execution, as well as branding. The main mode of state administered punishment for the duration of the ancient times and the middle ages was defined as exile. Despite the fact that prisons existed, particularly during the 14th century, they were not commonly used until the early 19th century (Cole, 2007). The Anglo-salon structure of keeping public order was seen as a private system. Crime is the act of doing something that jeopardizes the peace of another individual. Crime brings forth offenses that are criminalized by law. In a country like the United States, the overall rates of crime have always been displayed by the application of two major indices which are the rate and intensity. The major kinds of criminal offenses which are found in the country include rape, homicide, assault, burglary and even robbery. Other forms of common crimes in the country which have been recorded over the years include theft on vehicles and even burglary and sometimes arson. Statistics which have been frequently released in the country have been giving closer indications that majority of the people in the country have been greatly impacted on all criminal operations in the country. In line with the above discussion, it is worth examining colonial America in order to have a better understanding. The period was defined a system of the English common law. The system comprised various rules that were adopted towards addressing problems within the society setting. It was founded on the history of decision former judges had developed in its place for law-making codes. It is worth understanding that the system made a difference between felonies and misdemeanors, which were the primary modes of crimes (Cole, 2007). The legal procedure, mainly for more serious offenses, entailed a grand adjudicators, comprised of members of the society, which determined whether there was sufficient evidence for prosecution. On the other hand, in such proceedings no public prosecutors or district attorneys were available. The casualty of the crime was accountable for instigating the trial and financing it. Over the past decades, there have been legislations and laws that have been changed and others passed. However, it has been observed the question on how criminals and those who break the country’s law should be dealt with has not been exhausted. This has aroused a long-lasting a debate in our society. In an attempt to get a viable answer to this debate, two models of dealing such offenders have been suggested: the “Crime Control Model” and “Due Process Model.” These two models applied in crime control have always been opposing each over the past years. This is because they offer different approaches towards dealing with criminal activities and punishing all offenders who break the country’s law (Hall, 2008). To begin with, the ‘Due Process Model’ applies the principle that every citizen in the country has the right not to be deprived of his life, liberty, or even property. The model suggests that there should always be a proper and most appropriate safeguards and legal procedure applied. With this model, any individual who has been charged with any kind of crime will be needed to have all his/her rights protected accordingly (Samaha, 2005). The model proposes that the criminal justice operation should consider such rights unless the individual has been found out to be guilty. On the other hand, the “Criminal Control Model” applies a totally different approach in fighting any criminal offense. The most outstanding this about this model for enforcing the law is that it is based on assumption that the findings by the police and necessary and thus arrestees should be treated as persons who are already guilty of the stated crime (Smith & Cole, 2006). While the “Due Process Model” treats everyone as innocent and focuses much on the rights of the accused individuals, the second one is mainly focuses on making sure all suspected individuals and criminals have been taken away from the society. This is done to protect the society and as well put the arrestees where they should be. Currently, it is notable that the courts have been in favor of the “Due Process Model” because it appears to support the major needs and rights of all the citizens. The model also treats an accused individual as innocent. It has therefore been able to secure freedom and rights of the accused. This model has therefore made it possible to protect all individuals as it has been indicated in the constitution of the country (Samaha, 2005). From the two models, it shall be noted that they have differences and therefore it would be necessary for every society to adopt the best practice to fight crime. Crime is something serious and should be fought by all means possible. That being the case, the above two models can be re-examined in order to select one which can help fight criminal offenses. Positive ethical behavior is expected in all careers and engagements in life. In our current society, people do not always do what is expected from them. Sometimes a person is aware that a given action will have negative consequences but still does it. In the society, it is something nice for every person to be responsible and do only what is right. This is the best way to maintain social responsibility and ethical conduct (Verbeek, 2006). At the same time, a person should not be guided to act in a given manner. Such ethical behavior and act should be intrinsic and consistent with human ethical principles, values and moral obligations. The importance of this behavior is that the society will live in harmony and reduce a great deal of problems faced in it. Conclusion Ethical behavior is very importance in the society. It determines how people relate with each other, and how problems faced in the society are addressed. Different theories are outlined to describe the process of ethical behavior and response to societal dynamics. Theories such as Utilitarian and Kantian ethics theory have been used to explain human behavior and moral conduct thus making it possible to address a couple of issues affecting humanity (Freeman & Stewart, 2006). In this paper we have also seen the importance of ethical behavior and practices. Human relationships can only be maintained by behaving in an ethically acceptable manner. In the process of persuasion, ethical practice is very significance because it determines the success of the process and how the ideas, opinions and decisions of another person can be influenced. Ethical practices are therefore beneficial in influencing the success of persuasion. References Cole, G. (2007). Criminal Justice in America, (5th Edition). California, Wadsworth Publishing, Hall, D. (2008). Criminal Law and Procedure. New York: Pearson Books. Freeman, R. & Stewart, L. (2006). Developing Ethical Leadership. Journal of ethics in leadership, 2(3), 71-88. Johannesen, R. (2007). Perspectives on Ethics in Persuasion. Journal of Sociology, 2(4), 26-53. Schaefer, T. R. (2012). Sociology: A brief Introduction. New York. McGraw-Hill Humanities Samaha, J. (2005). Criminal Justice. New York: John Wiley and Sons. Smith, C. & Cole, G. (2006). The American System of Criminal Justice. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Verbeek, P. (2006). Persuasive Technology and Moral Responsibility: Toward an Ethical Framework for Persuasive Technologies. Journal of Ethics and Behavior, 3(1), 24-43. Read More