Code of Silence: Good or Bad - Essay Example

A Code of Silence is when a person opts to withhold what is believed to be vital or important information voluntarily or involuntarily. The logic behind this principle is that being a whistleblower may endanger the rest of the association or organization. In the legal setting, the code of silence is believed to be prevalent in the armed forces where data regarding operations and technological developments are kept secret for the sake of national security. It could also be found in the corporate setting especially in banks which can keep the anonymity of clients.

   The code of silence is usually either kept because of force or danger to oneself or being branded as a traitor or an outcast within the unit or organization which particularly holds true in a police setting as studies would show. It was famously practiced in Massachusetts police departments in cities such as Charlestown, South Boston, and Somerville. All over the world, there are many stories about police abuse of authority or police/military brutality and the death of a criminal, and most of these stories are linked with the code of silence.

The code also exists among many organizations even those which are criminal in nature. A more famous example of the code of silence is Omerta which made the Mafia such an indiscrete and almost impenetrable organization.          I would argue that the Code of Silence is inappropriate when it makes loyalty to people a higher priority than loyalty to principles. To qualify further, the principles should be within the bounds of moral and legal codes.

Policemen, for example, pride themselves in being the vanguards of society. Ideally, they should be promoting law and order. However, a study conducted by the National Institute of Ethics in the United States revealed that there were many cases of abuse of police officers particularly that of superiors that were undisclosed. This included excessive use of force, having sex on duty, and taking marijuana. The Code of Silence was indeed prevalent and officers observed it as they fear for their life, employment, and social status (Trautman, 2000).

In this case, the code of silence was used to protect the people that were offenders themselves rather than upholding the principles that govern the institution.