Ethical Worksheet

University of Phoenix Material

Ethical Dilemma Worksheet

Incident Review

1. What is the ethical issue or problem? Identify the issue succinctly.

In order to charge the husband with the misdemeanor, driving under the influence (DUI) , the officers needed to have seen him driving prior to failing a sobriety test . However in the original report the officers stated that they saw him walking, but never in the vehicle. In the revised report , the officers said they saw him driving

2. What are the most important facts? Which facts have the most bearing on the ethical decision presented? Include any important potential economic, social, or political pressures, and exclude inconsequential facts.

Officers Nixon and Rook changed events in the revised, and supervisor approved, report that they gave to Prosecutor Ross Acute. Stating that the husband was physically driving the vehicle while under the influence of alcohol justified the charges that they arrested him on. The fact that the blue station wagon was still warm and the husband had the keys in his possession does not necessarily mean that he was the last to drive the car, especially while intoxicated.

3. Identify each claimant (key actor) who has an interest in the outcome of this ethical issue. From the perspective of the moral agent--the individual contemplating an ethical course of action--what obligation is owed to the claimant? Why?

Claimant

(key actor) Obligation (owed to the claimant) Perspective (What does the claimant hope will happen?)

Husband Fidelity,

Non-Injury The police officers are supposed to protect him rather than alter facts to suit their own needs.

Future Individuals Charged with DUI Fidelity Throughout history, cases like this set precedents as to how future individuals should be treated in the same situation, given similar circumstances. All citizens have rights and they should be allowed the opportunity to be presumed innocent, especially when police officers witness the events as being non-criminal to begin with.

Police Fidelity It is unknown as to whether the officers were in agreement on falsifying the documents in the second report in order to convict the husband. However, the original report was turned in, unsigned, and rather than swapping out the reports, the same report should have been sent back to the supervisor for approval.

Prosecutor Fidelity recognizes that there are two different versions of the report that can drastically change the outcome for the husband. It is his duty to correct the wrongs and take the original report into consideration over the revised copy.

General Public Fidelity,Non-Injury,Justice

Law enforcement and prosecution is in place as a means to protect the general public and uphold the laws that have been set forth for the citizens who commit crimes or are charged with committing crimes in their jurisdiction.

Evaluating Alternatives

4. What are two alternatives for the scenario? One alternative can be a wild card that you ordinarily may not consider an option because of potential implications. Both should be within free will and control of the same moral agent.

Alternative A Alternative B

Prosecutor does nothing Officers admit to errors in report

5. Respond to the following questions based on your developed alternatives.

Alternative A Alternative B

What are the best- and worst-case scenarios if you choose this alternative? The prosecutor will not be upholding the laws and demonstrating by example that it is acceptable to bring about false charges.

The officers will be reprimanded, but the husband's conviction will most likely be thrown out.

Will anyone be harmed if this alternative is chosen? If so, how will they be harmed? Consider families and derivative effects. An innocent citizen will be convicted of a crime that can not be proven.

Officers Nixon and Rook will get into trouble for not following procedure and for lying.

Would honoring an idea or value--such as personal, professional, or religious--make the alternative invalid? It is unethical to lie, which is what the prosecutor would be doing if he pretended not to know about the first document.

Admitting that they were wrong in revising the content of their report would show good judgment on their part.

Are there any rules, laws, or principles that support the alternative? Are there rules, laws, or principles that make the alternative invalid? State the rule or principle and indicate if it invalidates or supports the alternative. Yes, Article 4 of the Canons of Police Ethics:

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