ETHICS IN
COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS
Presented by:
Dennis Berry & Eileen Wygant
Mesa County Community Corrections
October 30, 2013
Ethics In Corrections
1.
Ethics Overview
2.
Staying Ethical in an Unethical World
3.
Being Ethical in the World of Corrections
4.
Avoiding Unethical Situations
5.
Additional Information
Ethics Overview
Key Word
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Accountability
Bravery
Character
Conviction
Courage
Honesty
Honor
Integrity
Public Trust
C AN B ELIEFS B E D ANGEROUS ?
C HALLENGING B ELIEFS
Year Zero
Once he had them out of the cities, he began to
He believed that “western” ideas and people were
sort
them,
those
that
would–be
good
for
the new
• what
Saloth
Sar
(May
19,
1925
April
15,
1998)
was wrong with Cambodia and that cities
society and those that would not.
“Pol Pot”
were bad.
He
believed that
the answer
was “Year Zero”,
•The
Khmer
leader
ones Rouge
that were
not 1963-1998
were killed out in the fields.
going back to the beginning with a rural (farming)
society. He got people to leave the cities by telling
them that the US was going to bomb the cities.
Year Zero
• Estimated 1,700,000–2,500,000
people died under his leadership
(1975-1979)
Here is one of
his victims
• Every year 20 percent of India grain crop is
eaten or spoiled by…
Large scale efforts of extermination of
rats has been thwarted by religious
outcry. Wheat growing district of Hapur
in North India has an average of 10
rats per house
Consequence of this belief: 10,000
children starve to death every day in
India, this is 3,650,000 children a year.
So what?
Know That What You Believe is
Based on Reality
Are Your Beliefs Based on Reality?

Copernicus & Galileo
N a t u ra l L a w
 Laws govern every aspect of life in this
universe.





Gravity
Inertia
Aerodynamics
Thermal Dynamics
Strong and weak nuclear forces
N a t u ra l L a w
• What is 2+2?
• How do you know it is 4?
• Aren’t you being narrow minded?
• What if you were off by just 1 and used that
math to build a house?
Snitching
Pornography
Drug abuse
Stealing
Wrong
Wrong
Extra-marital sex
Right
Truth telling
Lying
Adultery
Driving under the influence
Hard Work
Treason
Assault
Child
Molestation
Tax Evasion
Wrong
Murder
Policy Violations
Gambling
Speeding
Wrong
Good
Parenting
Drunkenness
What are
Your Ethics?
• Is right and wrong up to the individual or is
there a standard that does not change?
• If right and wrong could change, then what (if
anything) would really be wrong?
• If there is a standard for right and wrong,
then who decides what it is right? Do I?
• Is there “truth” in the community corrections
field?
In Community Corrections...
• There is an ethical standard of right and
wrong
• And it is NOT based on individual beliefs
but on reality
• And if you violate it you will face the
consequences, just like you would with
any of the laws of nature
Which Path Will You Take?
Would you be comfortable living in this
house with a foundation like this?
Ethics Defined
• Webster’s Dictionary:
“Behavior conforming to accepted principles of right and
wrong that govern the conduct of a profession.”
• National Institute of ethics:
“Ethics is a code or system of conduct that has universal
moral obligations and duties that explain how to act.”
• Josephson Institute of ethics:
“Ethics refers to standards of conduct, standards that
indicate how one should behave based on moral duties and
virtues, which themselves are derived from principles of
right and wrong.”
Integrity
knowing right from wrong and
committing to do what is right
even when no one is watching
Being Courageous
• Knowing what you believe alone is not enough;
otherwise education alone would be the answer
• It takes both knowing what the right thing is and
the MORAL COURAGE to do the right thing
• Setting boundaries because you work in the
criminal justice field may mean giving up some
things
The Four Enemies of Integrity
 Self-interest – Things we want
 Self-protection – Things we don’t want
 Self-deception – A refusal to see a situation clearly
 Self-righteousness – An end-justifies-the-means attitude
Why Do Good People Fail to
Report Unethical Behavior?
1) We fear confrontation
2) We fear retaliation
3) We believe that if we speak up, nothing
will happen
Steve Priest, founder of the Ethical Leadership Group
When you’re in a crowd, it’s easier to look straight
ahead, keep your mouth shut & say nothing
instead of doing the right thing & go against the
flow
Staying Ethical in an
Unethical World
National Association of Scholars Survey of
College Seniors Findings:
97% --
Said their college studies had prepared
them to behave ethically in their future
work lives.
73% --
Said that uniform standards of right
and wrong don’t exist.
Zogby International Poll
Report Card on Ethics
Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth 2008 Josephson Institute
Report Card on Ethics
Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth 2008 Josephson Institute
Report Card on Ethics
Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth 2008 Josephson Institute
Report Card on Ethics
Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth 2008 Josephson Institute
Report Card on Ethics
Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth 2008 Josephson Institute
Report Card on Ethics
Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth 2008 Josephson Institute
Report Card on Ethics
Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth 2008 Josephson Institute
Report Card on Ethics
Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth 2008 Josephson Institute
Report Card on Ethics
Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth 2008 Josephson Institute
Report Card on Ethics
Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth 2008 Josephson Institute
Report Card on Ethics
Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth 2008 Josephson Institute
Report Card on Ethics
Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth 2008 Josephson Institute
Report Card on Ethics
Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth 2008 Josephson Institute
Report Card on Ethics
Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth 2008 Josephson Institute
Report Card on Ethics
Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth 2008 Josephson Institute
Lance Armstrong Admits Doping
 Armstrong denied doping for over 10 years
2010- former teammate claims team is doping
Anti-Doping Agency says Armstrong is kingpin
Armstrong admits doping in interview with
Oprah Winfrey
Postal Service wants $30 Million back
Livestrong cancer charity donations drop off
Life time ban, medals returned
Harvard University Cheating Scandal
Harvard probes cheating on Final Exam in
largest cheating scandal in living memory at
an Ivy League institution.
Almost half of “Intro to Congress” class
accused of cheating (125 of 279)
Some students admit to sharing ideas and
source material in violation of rules
Investigation reveals widespread cheating
Graduation in limbo for Harvard students
Some recent Harvard grads unemployable
Harvard University Cheating Scandal
Harvard President:
“It is not about one student group, Its not
confined to any one student group.”
Harvard Dean of Undergraduate Studies:
“Without integrity, there can be no genuine
achievement, either at Harvard or anywhere
else.”
Harvard University Cheating Scandal
Howard Gardner, Harvard Professor speaking of
Harard students says:
“In many ways they’re lovable and inspiring, but
they cut corners the way you would jaywalk…
This is a textbook example of people doing what
they think they can get away with rather than
what they should be doing.”
Harvard University Cheating Scandal
Katie White, University of Georgia grad says:
“I think that it shows that regardless of the
prestige and the name of the university, these
students are not any more moral than other
students elsewhere. They are still young and
foolish and just because they go to Harvard it
doesn’t mean that they are necessarily of a
higher caliber than others.”
• How do you decide right from wrong?
• How do you know this is correct?
• Challenge: Look at the evidence and conform
your beliefs to reality.
• If we know why something is right or wrong,
we are less likely to cross moral boundaries.
Summary
• Ethics should be based on reality
• There is only one reality (many perceptions),
but one reality
• We know which is correct based on the
evidence
• You now have two basic paths you can
choose…
Which Path Will You Take?
What Would You Do?
• Would I do this if my family was watching
me?
• Would I do this if it meant losing my job?
• Would I want this to be published in the local
newspaper?
• Would I do this if my reputation to the clients
would be effected?
Being Ethical in the
World of Corrections
Criminal Justice in the Headlines
Court Sentences
Ex-Judge to Prison in
Kickback case
Ravages of Meth
Taints a Sheriff
High Court Judge in
Michigan gets Prison
Ex-Cop Claims he’s
Innocent ($250,000 bond
set in suspected assault,
burglary)
Criminal Justice in the Headlines
Guilty Pleas to
Extortion, Sex
Charges (Former DA
avoids life behind bars)
Guard for state prison
accused of trying to
have husband killed
On the Make at
Country Jam (State Patrol
Sgt’s proposition)
Case Manager
suspected of sex with
inmate
Criminal Justice in the Headlines
Ex-officers Defend
Raid
Probe showed
‘mischief’ in police
search
Ex-cop accused of sex
assault
Rifle guard accused of
taking bribe to aid escape
Criminal Justice in the Headlines
Probation Officer
arrested after
domestic dispute
Woman accused of sex
assault on boy
Detention officer
charged with bribery
Custodian going to jail
over bribes
Is There Any Hope?
Tony Dungy Story
Red Robin Hero
Bobby Jones Story
Coach Doug Langero
Why Do We Need Ethics Training?
We have Power & Control over other people
We have Discretion in making decisions
We Represent our department to the community
Types of Unethical Conduct
1)
On Duty Misconduct
2)
Inappropriate Relations with Clients
3)
Introduction of Contraband
4)
Abuse of Offenders
5)
Fiscal Misconduct
6)
Off Duty Misconduct
7)
Investigation Violations
Unethical Behavior in Community
Corrections can Lead to…
• Being Embarrassed
• Bringing Shame on
your family
• Being Fired
• Losing Your Family
• Even going to PRISON
Why is our off duty
conduct important?
Work
Life
Room Searches
Drug Screens
Job Checks
Case Management
Program Intakes
Collecting Money
Body Searches
Writing Reports
Testying in Court
Transporting Clients
Personal
Life
Eating Out
Buying a Car
Potential
Replacing Roof
Conflict
Going to the Movies
Shopping
Picking Children Up
Attending Ball Games
Going out to Eat
Playing in a Park
Golfing
Avoiding Unethical Situations
Why do Good People do
Unethical Things?
Four Primary Reasons:
1. ANGER
2. GREED
3. LUST
4. POOR DECISIONS
Continuum of Compromise
• Cynicism, Lack of Trust, Anger & Frustration

• Feeling of Victimization

• Entitlement Thinking

• Acts of Omission

• Acts of Commission
Six Ways to Stay Ethical
1. Know Your Clients
2. Know Policy & Procedures
3. Document, Document, Document
4. No Secrets!
5. Accountability
6. Don’t Become Complacent
Now what are you going to do?
• Talk to your supervisor
• Review you agencies policy & procedure
• Code of Conduct
• Develop your ethical framework
• Write out your personal Values
Now Go
&
Act Ethically!!