Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions in Criminal Justice - Essay Example

Why it is difficult for an individual to disobey ity People tend to believe so much in yielding to the ity, they believe it is their liability to do what the authority requires. It is quite logical the name authority itself calls for attention and absolute compliance. So they do what they are told to do, it can be described as fear that comes out naturally (Pollock 118). Some people deem that, by doing what the authority requires of them that they are gratifying their promises to themselves. These people are likely witnesses of committed crimes and they believe in seeing impartiality made, this is a promise they make to themselves, and they make it their objective to see that no one innocent is prosecuted.

Some people fear altercation and disobeying authority would require confrontation. Very many people want to appear rational and people with high integrity, and compliance to the authority means they are upholding their dignity. These people want to paint unadulterated picture of them to the authority and by complying with what the authority requires they are able to achieve this. Giving a phony or unjustly account of what took place will make a person obey authority in order to reverse his or her previous sentiments.

When ones conscious is not at peace is it even possible for the person to have a peaceful life, knowing that one’s own version will make a person lose his or her life. How can someone live with a false accusation? Unless this person is retarded, because knowing ones version of what happened would be a reason someone innocent is likely to lose his or her life is intolerable. People have so much trust in the authority and not complying with what the authority requires would be so disrespectful on their part.

From the age of childhood, people grow to believe an older person should always be respected, so obedience to authority comes naturally. When one fails to respect, authority there is the possibility of the person feeling incompetent and unreliable and it is so palpable that no one wants to be associated with such attributes. Some people comply with the authority for the wrong reasons; they find it hard to say no to the authority because of bribery. Some of them are bribed to give false accounts of what really happened.

Such offers are unfeasible for some selfish individuals to turn down. They take up the offers and change their previous versions. There is the issue of threat since it is not likely that authority will be soft and understanding. Sometimes the authority uses threat on witnesses for them to do what the authority requires of them, or what they should appropriately do as witnesses. In this case, the witnesses do not have a choice, they have to comply or face the possibility of their families being susceptible or facing agony themselves.

Some people love publicity, they may not have the needed proof as to what really happened, but because they want to appear as imperative people in the society they will give their own account of what actually happened. Conclusion Authority makes an account of a witness to be ethical or a pure lie. People also give their accounts in cases as witnesses in accordance with their expectations. Some witnesses give their accounts for pure publicity, other are candid and want to see justice triumph. In both cases, it is complex to know who is telling the truth and who is not because both of them are compelling in their argument on their versions as witnesses.

Work Cited Pollock, Joycelyn M. Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions in Criminal Justice. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.