Ethics and Criminal Justice: Community Perception - Essay Example

? Ethics and Criminal Justice: Community Perception due: Introduction The development and maintenance of community trust is the foundation of a successful policing and law enforcement. These actions require a tremendous amount of effort, which can be undone within a short amount of time by an unethical officer. This means that the effort put by several police officers in building trust can be destroyed by the actions of only one unethical officer. According to community perception, the mistake of one unethical officer short lives the integrity of the police (Newburn, 2012). Thus, the integrity of the police will always dictate the level of community trust. This paper will present information on how local law enforcement agencies can be accountable to the citizen by engaging them in a number of trust building initiatives. This includes citizen input for determinations and discipline, known as community policing. How community policing can aid in building strong ties between police and the community Community policing refers to a group effort between the police and the community, aiding in the identification and solving of community issues. Law and order cannot be maintained by the police alone. The community is also viewed as the guardians of law and order. Therefore, all community members must actively participate in enhancing the safety of neighborhoods. The community must start with being protective and vigilant of their own security, as well as that of their neighbors. The community policing program has become essential in recent years due to the collaboration between the police and community leaders. More effective ways to promote public safety, and to promote a better and a safe neighborhood have been established due to this program (Greene, 2000). Community policing program was established and funded by The United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, and Community Policing Consortium. Community Policing Consortium includes representatives from the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the national Sheriffs’ Association, the Police Executive Research Forum, and the Police foundation. This program was designed to be a learning occurrence for the police and community members. The aim of community policing was to assess the effectiveness of various implementation techniques and the impact of community policing on local levels of crime, fear, violence, and other safety issues. By getting the community involved, the police force will have more data available for the prevention of crime related activities. This is as an alternative to the community being forced by the police to share information after a crime has been committed (Somerville, 2009). Community policing has greater results in fighting the vice of crime. With the development of criminal activities, crime control and prevention must also be advanced. This can only be possible by the community members actively participating on crime control and prevention. This is carried out by a neighborhood watch backed by the police force. This helps community members mobilize support and resources to solve problems and enhance their quality of life. Community members are given a chance to air their concerns, contribute advice, and take action to address these concerns. Creating a constructive partnership between the community and police force will require the energy, creativity, understanding, and patience of all parties involved (Hinkle & Weisburd, 2008). The essence of community policing requires a close working relationship between the community and police; to identify the concerns and to find the most effective solutions (Scheider et al, 2009). By getting to know the members of the community, the police officers are able to obtain valuable information concerning criminal activity and perpetrators. This gives the police force a clearer picture of the community needs and expectations of police services. Effective community policing is dependent on the optimizing positive contact between the patrol officers and community members. Community policing offers the citizens a chance to actively share practical information with the law enforcement profession. This is important as it will help in the planning and implantation of effective strategies. Community policing applications improve local crime control and the prevention of crime initiatives. Community policing uses a variety of practical and truth-seeking approaches, which are constantly evolving. Community policing strategies are different dependent on the wants and responses expected by the involved community (Greene, 2000). Prevention of crime and creating safe environments is essential with the aid of communities. For community policing to be actively embarked, the virtue of trust must be considered. Trust is a bond that connects the components of community partnership and problem solving. A relationship founded on trust will consent to the close relationship formation between the police and community. This will lead to solid achievements in the context of crime solving and security. Without the facet of trust between police and citizens, effective community policing is impossible. On critical terms, community policing is democracy in action. This is by the active chipping in of local government officers, schools, churches, and hospitals (Hinkle & Weisburd, 2008). How are obligations and duties impacted by ethical or unethical behaviors by police officers or administrators? Police officers or administrators serve as self-contained ethical leaders. They are regarded as individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary in the motivation of other individuals. Police officers are required to abide to the law enforcement codes of ethics and conduct, striving to live up to the highest possible standards of policing. Police officers or administrators act as behavior role models. They are regarded as ethical leaders by example. It is logical that subordinates model the behavior based on what a leader demonstrates. For instance, if a police officer or administrator accepts bribes and gratuities, the subordinates may engage in that same action, even though it is termed as unethical according to the agency’s code of conduct (International Association of Chiefs of Police, 2013). Police ethics focuses on virtues, which are an example of moral excellence. The virtues include discretion, integrity, courage, and self restraint. The police officers or administrators face ethical challenges on a daily basis, for instance a police officer may be faced with an ethical dilemma on incriminating a known criminal. The officer might view the action as a noble and right thing to do, and may even testify falsely about the criminal in court. There is a relationship among virtues, morality, and ethics. According to this relationship, a police officer must be truthful and professional at all times. It is the decision of a police officer or administrator whether or not to behave ethically or unethically. Thus, deciding not to behave ethically is not questionable behavior. Unethical behaviors displayed by a police officer contribute to public perception that police officers or administrators are untrustworthy. Limitations to community policing which impact the delivery of police services The implementation of community policing necessitates fundamental changes in the structure and management of police organizations. Community policing requires patrol function and the presence of a patrol officer. Patrol officers have been accorded a low status regardless of the work they do. This misconception serves a major limitation to community policing. The lack of respect due to this misconception will lead to no trust from the community members it must be noted that trust is essential in community policing, trust is accompanied with respect. Thus, no respect equals to no trust, this will affect the delivery of services offered by the police. This misconception is a limitation to community policing (Rosenbaum et al, 2011). According to Carter & Carter (2009), the role of the patrol officer has significant organizational and managerial implications. The lack of a proper police organization is a limitation to community policing. Effective community policing requires proper management and operations. These organizational trends must support the efforts done by the patrol officer, thus encouraging a cooperative approach to problem solving. Organizational efforts must support the responsibilities of patrol officers. All stages of community policing must be carefully planned (p. 310-325). The community policing framework must be well made and organized to maintain a strategy that is dynamic and flexible. Lack of a proper plan is a limitation in community policing. In regard to this, constant supervision of the patrol officers by sergeants or lieutenants is important for effective community policing. This ensures a close collaboration between patrol officers and their supervisors. This is critical to a successful community policing and partnership. The values of the patrol officer must be ethical. This is due to the fact that it is the patrol officer who is responsible to for the community as well as he is the major decision maker. The patrol officer must be guided with the values and guiding principles; displaying appropriate actions and behavior. The value of equity must be accorded by the patrol officer. The patrol officer must treat all members of the public according to the constitutional rights. Careful attention to the constitutional rights must be followed by the patrol officer; this will help to strengthen the bonds of trust between the police and community (Rosenbaum et al, 2011). Communication is an important aspect in community policing. Communication must be timely, comprehensive and direct. A regular manner of communication fosters active participation and decreases the resistance and opposition. Communication must be effective within the police organization and between the police and community. This will ensure an efficient flow of information. Lack of information is a threat to community policing. How citizen based oversight groups can aid police departments when there are allegations of police abuse Citizen based oversight groups emerged due to the failure of police in reassuring the public that police organizations can aid in cases of police abuse. Citizen based oversight groups oversee the local law enforcement agencies. Citizen based oversight groups protect the rights of citizens from police abuse. Some unethical actions performed by police officers lead to lack of trust between the public and police. Public trust in law enforcement may end completely if police officers do not instill sound ethical policies. Therefore, police officers have the responsibility for demonstrating just and proper behavior according to their code of conduct. Their actions alone will inform the community on the role of the police force in the maintenance of honor, trust, and integrity. The level of integrity always states the level of community trust. Police misconduct is evident by the use of excessive force, unreasonable shootings, race discrimination, corruption, and lack of accountability. Police misconduct display abuse that the public go through. Citizen oversight requires the use of people outside the police force in order to obtain essential information. The aim is to hold law enforcement officers accountable for their ill actions (International Association of Chiefs of Police, 2013). Citizen oversight groups can aid the police trace information of a police officer abuse on the public via the following ways: community outreach to inform the public about the complaint review system, complaint investigation, and managing the complaint review system. All complaints are recorded without any judgment. The complaints are screened, and the ideal compliant group is established. The citizen oversight boards investigate the allegations of any misconduct done by a police officer. From the field study performed by the citizen oversight groups, the recommended actions are forwarded to the chief or sheriff; who has the power to reject or approve the findings. There are models used in citizen oversight. These models are essential in communities where police abuse has occurred, thus the community lacking trust in the police force. These models are important in conducting information and making conclusive findings. Actions done by the citizen oversight groups have strengthened the quality of the internal investigations of the alleged misconduct of a police officer. These groups have reassured the public that the process is extensive and fair (Porter & Warrender, 2009). In conclusion, citizen oversight groups have been beneficial in keeping the police or sheriff’s department accountable for any ill behavior done by a police officer, help in the establishment and maintenance of the police department’s reputation for fairness and firmness in addressing allegations of police misconduct, and gives the complaints the satisfaction of expressing their concern personally to the officer. Conclusion Police departments are urged to create connections with their citizens in a proactive manner. The aim of this measure is to prevent the development of tenuous relationships subsequent to the high profile misconduct of police officers. Law enforcement leaders must outlook internal interactions as part of a continuum of trust-building and not an isolated component of their agency. Once this is accomplished, the potential for community trust-building increases exponentially. Community policing creates trust between the community and police, offering a conducive and safe environment for both groups (Greene, 2000). In this rapid evolving period, the concept of community policing has proved to be beneficial to the community. It has been revealed that community policing plays a vital role in changing the mode all governments’ services are provided at the community level. Citizen based oversight groups have improved the relationship and image of the police force with the community (Walker & Katz, 2012). References Carter, D. L., & Carter, J. G. (2009). Intelligence-Led Policing Conceptual and Functional Considerations for Public Policy. Criminal Justice Policy Review,20(3), 310-325. Greene, J. R. (2000). Community policing in America: Changing the nature, structure, and function of the police. Criminal justice, 3, 299-370. Hinkle, J. C., & Weisburd, D. (2008). The irony of broken windows policing: A micro-place study of the relationship between disorder, focused police crackdowns and fear of crime. Journal of Criminal Justice, 36(6), 503-512. International Association of Chiefs of Police. (2013). COPS ethics and integrity training.http://www.theiacp.org/PoliceServices/ProfessionalAssistance/Ethics/ReportsResources COPSEthicsandIntegrityTraining/tabid/179/Default.aspx  International Association of Chiefs of Police. (2013). Police accountability and citizen review.http://www.theiacp.org/PoliceServices/ProfessionalAssistance/Ethics/ReportsResources/PoliceAccountabilityandCitizenReview/tabid/193/Default.aspx Newburn, T. (Ed.). (2012). Handbook of policing. Routledge. Rosenbaum, D., Schuck, A., Lawrence, D., Hartnett, S., McDevitt, J. & Posick, C. (February 2011).Community-based indicators of police performance: Introducing the platforms public satisfaction survey. 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