Ethics Of Correctional Officers Essay

897 Words4 Pages

Correctional officers must have and display good character and exemplify good ethical conduct. These professionals must take their job serious. Correctional officers play an influential role in the lives of many inmates because of their direct and prolonged interaction. It’s their obligation and duty to maintain security within the institution, to ensure the welfare, safety, and security. This is why good ethics being particularly important for those in a position of power because some can easily take advantage and abuse it. For example, when officers abuse their power by displaying unethical behaviors that occur in prison settings relating to inappropriate relationships that can develop between inmates and officers. While reading one of the chapters, the book talked about noticing the increase of complaints of sexual abuse and sexual misconduct started to happened, when both genders were equally allowed to work in both women and male facilities. So how can this ethical issue be dealt with or resolved? There can …show more content…

While most correctional officers conduct themselves with complete professionalism, abiding to their oath they took, not all do. For this ethical system to work, officers have to put aside how they may personally feel about the inmate, the crimes they committed because its their duty to still treat them without any unbiased opinions. For example, if a child molester reported to an officer about another officer sexually abusing them do you ignore them because they deserve it? What about not reporting it because you are afraid to go against the code of silence? Taking on deontological ethical approach neither questions are applicable because their duty and obligation to follow the rules and or laws would be to report is to report the inmate accusations of sexual misconduct. Regardless, on the good or bad consequences the officer actions to report was guided by good