Professionalism and Ethics in Corrections
Course
Correctional
Services
Unit I
Professionalism
Rationale
Regardless of the field, each organization has some standards by which it
operates and expects its employees to follow. The Texas Department of
Criminal Justice (TDCJ) is no different. Professionalism and ethics play a
key role in an employee’s success within the agency. Without them, you
may find yourself “behind closed bars.”
Essential
Question
What is
workplace
professionalism
and ethics?
Objectives
The student will be able to:
1. Analyze the ethical responsibilities of correctional officers to ensure
the protection of rights.
2. Discuss the importance of professionalism in the field of corrections.
3. Use leadership qualities within a team environment.
TEKS
§130.297(c)
(2)(B)(C)(D)
Engage
Write the following scenario on the board.
“You are assigned to a senior field training officer (FTO) for your first
four weeks of training after your completion of the police academy. You
and your FTO stop at a local convenience store. Your FTO takes a
coke and a candy bar, walks past the register and out of the door. The
FTO said nothing to the store clerk, and made no effort to pay for the
items. What do you do?”
Allow the students 10–15 minutes to write their response to the scenario.
Ask a few students to tell you what they would do in this situation. Discuss
with the class those actions that would be ethical/professional, compared to
the actions that less ethical and/or unethical. Discuss gratuities with the
students. (Note: You might want to check with your local police department
to see what their policy is regarding this issue.) Use the Discussion Rubric
and/or the Writing Rubric for assessment.
Prior Student
Learning
Identify core
values in the
workplace.
Estimated Time
2 to 6 hours
Key Points
I. Professional vs. Non-Professional (Note to Instructor: See Activity #1)
A. Professionalism is exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and
generally businesslike manner in the workplace.
B. Professional behaviors
1. Treat everyone with respect (at all levels)
2. Speak without judging, blaming or demeaning
3. Listen with an open mind
4. Avoid gossip, name-calling, and offensive humor
5. Take responsibility for your behavior
6. Consider the outsider’s view
a) Take pride in wearing the TDCJ uniform
b) Don’t wear your uniform incomplete or while
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exhibiting questionable behaviors
7. Respect cultural diversity
a) Each employee brings cultural differences, like
communication styles, appearances, beliefs, and
behaviors
b) Avoid hot words such as “you people”, “us,” or
“them”
8. Avoid and Report sexual harassment
a) Actions constitute sexual harassment when it:
(1) Affects an individual's employment
(2) Interferes with an individual's work
performance OR
(3) Creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive
work environment
b) Examples: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests
for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical
conduct of a sexual nature
C. Non-professional behaviors
1. Intimidation (threats & bullying)
2. Sarcasm
3. Excessive criticism, complaining, nitpicking and negativity
4. Sabotaging other employees or departments
5. Faultfinding and blaming behaviors
6. Open hostility towards management or other groups
7. Frequent use of obscenities, cursing and swearing
8. Gossiping, spreading rumors
9. Language, behaviors or humors which demean individuals
or groups
10. Teasing or making others the punch line of a joke
II. Key terms
A. Sexual Harassment (Note to Instructor: See Activity #2)
1. Actions that constitute sexual harassment affect an
individual's employment; interfere with an individual's work
performance; OR create an intimidating, hostile, or
offensive work environment
2. Examples: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for
sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a
sexual nature
B. Discrimination – involves treating someone (an applicant or
employee) less favorably
C. Ethics – a set of rules and standards that govern individual
conduct. They also establish right and wrong, and good and bad.
D. Integrity – moral soundness, honesty, and freedom from corrupting
influences or motives
E. Values – the beliefs of a person or social group, in which they
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have an emotional investment (either for or against something)
F. Morals – concern with the judgment of right or wrong, human
action, and character
G. Trustworthiness
1. Honesty – prohibits stealing, cheating, fraud, or trickery to
get anything of value
2. Loyalty – moral responsibility to promote/protect the
interests of an organization
3. Integrity – treating beliefs about right and wrong as ground
rules for behavior
H. Responsibility
1. Accountability – accept responsibility for decisions; don’t
blame others or take credit for work you didn’t do
2. Self-Restraint – willingness to take advance, long-term
interests into account
3. Pursuit of Excellence – diligence, perseverance, good work
habits, commitment to quality
I. Respect
1. Courtesy – treating others with consideration
2. Tolerance and Acceptance – acknowledging others’ beliefs
and differences
J. Caring – considerate behavior toward others
K. Citizenship – contribution to society as a whole
L. Fairness – equal treatment of every person
III. Ethics
A. Personal Ethics are formed from cultures, families, communities,
religious entities, and morals, and involve moral choices
B. Professional Ethics are rules of standards governing a profession
(Examples: Work ethic, no abuse of sick leave, arriving early, etc.)
C. TDCJ Core Values
1. Trustworthiness
2. Responsibility
3. Respect
4. Caring
5. Citizenship
6. Fairness
D. TDCJ Ethical Goals
1. Integrity
2. Values
3. Morals
E. Unethical behaviors
1. Falsification of records
2. Introduction of contraband
3. Excessive use of force
4. Officer/Offender relations
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5. Sexual Harassment
F. Ethical misconceptions
1. Only a personal opinion or belief
2. Legal equals ethical
3. A behavior is acceptable if it is not specifically forbidden
Activities
1. Students will compare and contrast differences between professional and
non-professional behavior based on known or perceived characteristics
and personal experiences. Have a student act as a “scribe” and write the
class’s responses. Then have the students use their ideas to describe a
professional environment. The questions and scenarios in the Activity 1
handout may be used. Use the Discussion Rubric for assessment.
2. Students will read the scenario (see Activity 2 handout) then discuss what
violation has occurred. What are the consequences? How can this
scenario be resolved? How could it have been avoided? Use the
Discussion Rubric for assessment.
3. Divide the class into groups and assign an even number of scenarios to
each group. The students will read the scenarios (see Activity 3 handout),
decide as a team which ethical core value applies, and write why that is
the ethical response. Use the Writing Rubric for assessment.
Assessments
Professionalism and Ethics Exam and Key
Discussion Rubric
Individual Work Rubric
Research Rubric
Writing Rubric
Materials
Professionalism and Ethics in Corrections computer-based presentation
Activity handouts (1–3)
Flip Chart, dry erase board, or chalk board
Writing utensils
Resources
Texas Department of Criminal Justice:
 PD-13 (rev. 5), Sexual Harassment and Discourteous Conduct of a
Sexual Nature; http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/vacancy/hr-policy/pd-13.pdf
 PD-22 (rev. 12), General Rules of Conduct and Disciplinary Action
Guideline for Rules of Conduct and Disciplinary Action Guidelines for
Employees; http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/vacancy/hr-policy/pd-22.pdf
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
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http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/vii.html
Accommodations for Learning Differences
For reinforcement, students will list terms and give a workplace example for
each. Use the Individual Work Rubric for assessment.
For enrichment, students will research specific cases where corrections
officers have violated TDCJ Policies and Procedures. Use the Research
Rubric for assessment.
State Education Standards
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education
§130.297. Correctional Services (One to Two Credits).
2) The student recognizes professional standards and ethical responsibilities
in the correctional facility. The student is expected to:
(B) analyze the ethical responsibilities of correctional officers to ensure
protections of rights;
(C) discuss the importance of professionalism in the field of corrections;
(D) use leadership qualities within a team environment.
College and Career Readiness Standards
English Language Arts
IV. Listening
B. Listen effectively in informal and formal situations.
1. Listen actively and effectively in group discussions.
Cross-Disciplinary Standards
I. Key Cognitive Skills
B. Reasoning
1. Consider arguments and conclusions of self and others
2. Construct well-reasoned arguments to explain phenomena,
validate conjectures, or support positions.
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Professionalism and Ethics in Corrections Activity 1
Use the questions and scenarios below to guide a discussion about professionalism and ethics.
Select a student to act as a “scribe” and record the class’s responses. The “scribe” should divide
the writing area into two columns: professional and unprofessional.
Instructor: Tell the students to think of someone they know or have dealt with that they thought
was a professional – this could be the bank teller at their bank, or even the checker at a local
grocery store.
Discussion questions:
1. List as many “professional” characteristics as possible.
2. Based on your experience, which of these characteristics were exhibited by the
professionals you encountered?
3. Did the type of service they provided make a difference in their level of professionalism?
(Examples: Doctor vs. sales clerk, Bank teller vs. car salesman, etc.)
Instructor: Now, think of a time you encountered someone you considered unprofessional and
what made that person unprofessional – was it the way they talked to you, was it their attitude?
Discussion questions:
1. List as many “unprofessional” characteristics as possible.
2. Based on your experience, which of these characteristics were exhibited by the person you
considered to be unprofessional?
3. What could that person have done to improve their professionalism?
Instructor: Now, think of how you want to be treated in the workplace. What does working in a
professional correctional environment mean to you? What kinds of things can you or your
supervisor do to make an environment more professional?
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Professionalism and Ethics in Corrections Activity 2
Sexual Harassment Scenario
An offender hears a Sergeant talking with Officer Smith, a female officer. The Sergeant asks
Officer Smith out for a drink after work. The female officer has requested an upcoming weekend
off because she is a bridesmaid in her best friend’s wedding, which is out of town. She already
has her plane tickets and dress. Her request for time off is denied due to lack of staffing. The
Sergeant suggests that he will “take care” of her scheduling conflict for the upcoming weekend if
she will go out with him for drinks.
The offender approaches the Sergeant and says, “Say boss, I heard you are going to really
‘take care’ of Officer Smith. It will be just between you and me if you will bring me some
tobacco.”
Do you risk discipline and possibly losing your job for sexually harassing someone, OR do you
lose your job because you get caught bringing in tobacco for the offender?
What are the consequences? How can this scenario be resolved? How could it have been
avoided?
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Professionalism and Ethics in Corrections Activity 3
Ethical Core Value Scenarios
Write or discuss the ethical response to the following scenarios.
1. You are responsible for 15 offenders on a work squad. While out in the field, another
officer arrives to transport an offender back to the unit for an appointment with the
institutional parole officer. The officer yells out to the offender, “Hey wetback Hernandez,
come here.” The offender says, “Don’t call me a wetback.” The officer replies, “I’ll call
you whatever I want to call you, and there’s nothing you can do about it!” The offender
pushes the officer. The two begin to fight. You are armed with a shotgun and tell the
offender to lie down. The offender complies, and there is no further incident. The
Captain later hears about the fight and asks you what happened.
2. You know tobacco is strictly prohibited inside the unit. You know your supervisor
smokes. He asks you if you want to go to the back gate and take a smoke break with
him. The back gate is located inside the perimeter of the unit.
3. You have a term paper due tomorrow, and you have not finished it by the time that you
come to work. While on duty, you work diligently on your paper and even decide to “skip”
the midnight count in order to complete it. You submit the numbers from the count you
took 4 hours earlier.
4. One of your employees in the maintenance shop has been having plumbing problems at
his house. He has complained several times that he can’t afford the tools he needs for
the repairs. You notice that several of the expensive wrenches are missing from the tool
board after your employee leaves for the weekend. One of the offenders tells you he saw
the employee place the tools in his pants pocket before he left. On Monday morning after
your employee clocks in, you notice the tools have all been returned. The employee tells
you he was able to get his plumbing fixed this weekend.
5. Your co-worker is having problems at home with her marriage. She has been on edge
lately and easily breaks down in tears. You notice that she is talking privately with the
same offender on a regular basis when she is on duty. You see her hand the offender a
small folded piece of paper. Later, you overhear the offender saying he got the officer’s
phone number.
6. You and several other officers go to the movies on your night off. You are wearing a shirt
with the state logo and your unit’s name. The employee says, “Go on in officer. There is
no charge.”
7. You observe one of your friends pull an offender in the sally port, yell at him, and punch
him in the stomach. He tells you that he is under investigation and needs you to back
him up. He wants you to tell the Lieutenant that he did not strike the offender.
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Name____________________
Date______________________
Professionalism and Ethics Exam
Multiple Choice
1. _____ What involves the values that govern a society’s attitude toward right and
wrong?
a. Ethics
b. Morals
c. Values
d. Integrity
2. _____ What are the means for determining what a society’s values ought to be?
a. Ethics
b. Morals
c. Values
d. Integrity
3. _____ Which of the following means, exhibiting a courteous, conscientious and
generally businesslike manner in the workplace?
a. Values
b. Ethics
c. Morals
d. Professionalism
4. _____Which of the following means, moral soundness, honesty, and freedom
from corrupting influences or motives?
a. Values
b. Ethics
c. Morals
d. Integrity
5. _____ What are beliefs of a person or social group in which they have emotional
investment, either for or against something?
a. Values
b. Ethics
c. Morals
d. Integrity
6. _____Which of the following is NOT one of the six core ethical values?
a. Integrity
b. Responsibility
c. Trustworthiness
d. Citizenship
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7. _____You show which of the following core ethical values when you tell the truth?
a. Responsibility
b. Citizenship
c. Trustworthiness
d. Fairness
8.
____If you spread gossip, call other employees names or use offensive language, you are
considered a professional.
a. True
b. False
9. _____It is ok to solicit sex from a co-worker at work in return for a special day off if the both of
you are single.
a. True
b. False
10. _____Which of the following activities would be considered an ethical issue?
a. Excessive use of force on an inmate.
b. Arriving for work 15 minutes early
c. Requesting time off
d. Taking responsibility for your decisions
11. _____If it’s legal, it must be ethical.
a. True
b. False
12. _____You should never wear your uniform in which of the following situations?
a. Buying groceries
b. To the liquor store to buy beer
c. Pumping gas
d. Going to a friend’s house
13. _____Cultural diversity means that as a supervisor you have to promote people from all races,
even if they are not qualified.
a. True
b. False
14. _____Which of the following is not a violation as listed in PD-22?
a. Horseplay
b. Sleeping on duty
c. Gambling on State property
d. Dating a co-worker
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15. _____Providing tobacco to an offender would violate which of these standards?
a. Ethics
b. Morals
c. Integrity
d. All of the above
Write your answers to the following on a separate sheet of paper using COMPLETE sentences.
16. Write YOUR code of ethics. A code by which you LIVE. List at LEAST five items.
17. Your parents, your teachers, and coaches have always expected you to do your best. Although
it is occasionally difficult, you have always tried to live up to their expectations. Now that you have a
job, the expectations seem to be a little different. If your work group performed their duties as you
think they should, a day’s work would be done in about five hours. Unfortunately, your work group
knows a hundred ways to slow things down. Thus, it takes a full eight or nine hours to do each day’s
work. This morning, one of them told you that if you wanted to keep your job, you’d better slow
down. What SHOULD/WOULD you do? Why?
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Professionalism and Ethics Exam Key
1. A
2. B
3. D
4. D
5. A
6. A
7. C
8. B
9. B
10. A
11. B
12. B
13. B
14. D
15. D
16. Answer is subjective, but should align with lesson content.
17. Answer is subjective, but should align with lesson content.
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Name_______________________________________
Date_______________________________
Discussion Rubric
Objectives
4 pts.
Excellent
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Participates in group discussion
Encourages others to join the
conversation
Keeps the discussion progressing
to achieve goals
Shares thoughts actively while
offering helpful recommendations to
others
Gives credit to others for their ideas
Respects the opinions of others
Involves others by asking questions
or requesting input
Expresses thoughts and ideas
clearly and effectively
Total Points (32 pts.)
Comments:
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Name:____________________________________
Date:_____________________________
Writing Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
The writing has all required parts from
introduction to conclusion in smooth
transition.
The writing is interesting, supportive,
and complete.
The writing demonstrates that the
writer comprehends the writing
process.
Accurate spelling, grammar, and
punctuation
The content of paragraphs
emphasizes appropriate points.
The writer shows an understanding of
sentence structure, paragraphing, and
punctuation.
All sources and references are clearly
and accurately documented.
Total Points (28 pts.)
Comments:
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