Imagine you're working as an administrator in a police department in your local town or city. Each day you interact with police officers in your department, police officers from other departments, various members of your office staff, other public officials, members of the public, representatives from the press, potential criminal defendants, and others. Research Project Research Project50 Ethics in Criminal Justice As you prepare your answers to the questions, keep in mind that you're a public official and that you have a duty to uphold justice and follow the law. Ethical Dilemma

1: Gun Rally One afternoon you receive an anonymous tip that a local gun advocacy group is going to hold a rally in the town square the next day. The group hasn't applied for a permit to have such a rally, but they've held such events in the past and they've always been peaceful. You strongly support Article 2 of the Constitution and the beliefs of the gun advocacy group, and you don't want to do anything that will hurt them or their members. You believe the anonymous tipster is providing accurate information, but you can't be absolutely sure. You also believe no one else in your police department is aware of the impending event. What do you do? Give reasons to support your decision.

Ethical Dilemma 2: Chief's Orders Assume that in response to question 1 you decided to advise your fellow police officers about the tip you received. You gather a group of officers together the next day in case the unlawful rally is held. As the gun advocacy group begins to appear on the town square green, you confer with the chief officer on duty that day. She tells you to wait until the entire group has gathered and then storm the area, with tear gas and billy clubs. You're further instructed to arrest everyone you can and to charge them with unlawful assembly, trespassing, rioting, and anything else you can come up with. She also makes some very derogatory comments about anyone who supports such a group, claiming they're terrorists and thugs. You personally disagree with the chief and believe she's acting both improperly and immorally, allowing her personal beliefs to interfere with her legal responsibilities as a police officer. What do you do? Do you follow her orders? Why or why not? Explain your answer.

Ethical Dilemma 3: Accepting Favors You're asked to investigate the gun advocacy group and their activities. To do so, you need to work with the police department in the next county. After contacting their chief, you're assigned to work with another seasoned officer who has also been conducting some preliminary investigations of the group. You decide to do some field investigations together the following day. While you're out doing your investigations, the other officer decides to stop at the local convenient market for a sandwich and coffee. He picks up what he wants, waves to the owner, and returns to the police vehicle-without paying for the items. When you ask him about it, he says that he has an "arrangement" with the owner and not to worry about it. He explains that he and the store owner help each other out (meaning the officer provides additional protection to the store in exchange for the food). Finally, he says, "If you're hungry, go inside and pick up what you want." What do you do and what concerns do you have? Explain your answers.

Ethical Dilemma 4: Reporting a Deal You happen to be in the courthouse during the trial of some of the members of the gun advocacy group. As you walk by the chambers of the judge who is presiding over the trial of this case, you overhear the judge and the chief prosecutor discussing the case. The judge is talking about one of the defendants in the case and is making some very derogatory comments. In the past, you've often appeared in trials before this judge, and you've always felt he has been fair and impartial to all involved. In this case, however, you're concerned that the judge and prosecutor may be engaging in inappropriate activity. This situation is particularly troublesome because the trial is proceeding at the request of all parties as a bench trial, with the decision being rendered by the judge without the benefit of a jury. What would you do? Explain your answer.

Ethical Dilemma 5: Breaking Prison Rules In the course of your investigation of the gun advocacy group, you have to go to your local county prison to question one of the group members being held there pending trial. This particular individual has been a problem inmate and is being held in solitary confinement. He's to have no contact with other members of the group. You meet with him in a private interrogation room with no one else in attendance. He knows that you generally support the group, and he does his best to answer your questions, although his answers aren't always as complete as you would like. At the end of the questioning- just before he rises to leave the room-he slips you a note in a sealed envelope and asks that you give it to someone who is involved in the gun advocacy group. He says it's very important and implores you to just hand it to the person or drop it in the mail. He then leaves the interrogation room. What do you do? Explain your answer.