Criminal Justices Ethics Essay Example for Free

Criminal Justices Ethics Essay A few months ago, a woman was brutally raped, beaten and left for dead. Since the attack she remains in a coma. This case has risen to national prominence as an example of how today’s youth no longer respects fundamental social values, television and video game violence has desensitized young men to the consequences of crimes such as assault and rape, and as a demonstration of the inability of the police to keep the streets safe for law-abiding citizens. My partner and I work in the criminal justice system as police officers and handle most of the homicide cases in our area. The publicity from this crime has placed our police department under pressure to send someone to trial for this crime immediately. A gang of young men were spotted in the areas where the victim was found assaulting and threatening people that were passing by. Two members of the gang were arrested. The two members are both male and 14 years of age that both have previous records of robbery and assault. Our obligation as police officers is to follow the policy and ethical standards of our police department and the law, which states, minors must be informed of their legal right to have their parents present during the interrogation and to use videotape during important interviews. However, my partner has pushed his ethical obligation aside and interviews both of the minors while deciding not to contact their parents or tape the interrogation. When I confront him about the policy’s that did not take place he tells me not to worry about it that both minors are guilty as sin and we can close the case. His actions are unethical and don’t not follow the policy of prosecuting the guilty, respecting the rights of the accused, and creating a safe community. Ethics is crucial in decisions involving discretion, force, and due process, because criminal justice professionals can be tempted to abuse their powers (Felkins, 1987). I report this to my supervisor only for him to tell me to trust my partner and go to trial. Both suspects are arrested and bound for trial. Bail is denied. I do not feel good about proceeding with this. The organizational culture represented by my supervisor gives the answer to my partners’ behavior. The supervisor plays a large role in defining organizational culture by his actions and leadership. Both my supervisor and my partner have decided to use â€Å"moral relativism† which is the ethical premise â€Å"that decisions about right and wrong are purely personal and subjective and according to it, whatever anyone claims to be morally acceptable is morally acceptable, at least for that person. They have not thought about the consequences of their actions and how they may be beneficial or harmful from the result. In order to do so one must analyze the issues and make judgments by studying the details of the case, identifying the relevant criteria, determining possible course of action, and deciding which action is most ethical. I will choose to detach myself from the case. I cannot afford to lose my job by not following the legal or ethical standards. Laws have penalties when cases are violated and these penalties can be very severe if you violate legal norms. I believe that both my partner and supervisor have violated legal norms as well as ethical standards. References Felkenes, G. (1987). â€Å"Ethics in the Graduate Criminal Justice Curriculum.† Teaching Philosophy 10(1): 23–26. Ruggiero, V. R. (2008). Thinking Critically About Ethical Issues (Seventh ed.). New York, NY, USA: McGraw-Hill.

The Times of the Spanish Inquisition Essay -- essays research papers

Known for the terror it caused the inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula, The Spanish Inquisition was one of the most deadly inquisitions in history. Used for both political and religious reasons, the time period between the 1400’s and the 1800’s belonged to the Catholic Roman Empire (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1994). In order to better understand the Inquisition, the reasons behind it, and the phenomenal worldwide effect, it is indispensable to examine its preceding events. In 14th century Spain, Jewish people are often associated with wealth, being a epidemic to the general public. When Aragon united with Castille in the marriage of Ferdinand V and Isabella, Spain was on the verge of becoming one of the wealthiest nations of the period. A large part of that prosperity was due to the Jewish community. Archdeacon Martinez of Seville continually tried to motivate the people to cleanse themselves of the Jewish citizens, finally succeeding on Ash Wednesday (March 15), 1391. Mobs flogged and beat the Jewish civilians to renounce their religion and become Christian. The victims of that day amount to hundreds, if not thousands, of unsuspecting people (C. Roth, The Spanish Inquisition, 1964). Although the Jews had become Christian to avoid persecution, they still celebrated their beliefs in secrecy. In 1487, their behavior was discovered during Jewish Passover, which was the same week as the Holy Week for the Catholic Church. Thus, the Spanish Inquisition was f ounded to sanitize the ...

The First Samurai

Japan in the 10th century was experiencing change and disorder as its relatively new central government sought techniques for a strong and enduring legacy. In this period lived a man named Taira no Masakado. In events which are swirled with mystery and legend, Masakado found himself in direct opposition with the government, even proclaiming the title of the â€Å"New Emperor†. His legacy endures to this day and is a fundamental component in contemporary Japanese folklore.Was Masakado a product of his environment or a self-motivated rebel, examining this question is important in the discussions of the motivations behind his actions. Whether he should be viewed as a villain or a hero is to be considered by the reader. Taira no Masakado is both revered as a hero and accused of being a trader. When considering the beginning of Masakado’s conquests it is important to note that not much is known of the exact motives of his first altercation with Minamoto Tasuku.All that is cl ear is that Minamoto sprang a surprise attack on Masakado as he neared the Hitachi region. Why was Masakado riding towards Hitachi with a group of armed men? Why did Minamoto attack Masakado? Both of these questions are vital in determining the real nature of Masakado and would link to the motives of his actions from this battle to his demise. The lack of answers to these questions seriously hinders one’s attempt at revealing Taira Masakado as a villain or hero. The events of Masakado’s insurrection seem to suggest that his actions were not justified and that he knew this.After being attacked by Minamoto, Masakado went on a rampage attacking many villages in southern Hitachi. Regardless of the dispute between the two, it is improbable that all of the victims of his attack were directly involved or deserving of murder. Preceding these events, Masakado is summoned to Kyoto to argue his case against allegations brought by the Minamoto family. Masakado is quick to travel t o Kyoto to explain himself, then, when he arrives back in Shimosa he is attacked by Yokishane.Looking for payback from the attacks in Hitachi, Yokishane aggressively seeks Masakado, even abducting his wife in the process. Having just been found innocent in Kyoto for his attacks in Hitachi, would it not make sense for Masakado to bring accusations against Yokishane? Masakado does not seek government help in deterring Yokishane, this suggests that he knew he was in the wrong and was hesitant to return to Kyoto, mainly because he felt as if he got lucky at his previous hearing.Skipping to Masakado’s confrontation with Sadamori in Hitachi, as Masakado wins the battle, storming the provincial capital grounds in the process, one gets a sense of the sudden panic defining his proceeding actions. Masakado immediately flees home to Shimosa. Once home, in an utterly confusing turn of events, Masakado heads out again, this time to conquer a handful of other eastern provinces. Instead of formerly addressing the rulers in Kyoto as the â€Å"new emperor† of the east or even as an adversary, Masakado writes a letter in an attempt to explain his actions and how they are justified.Using his imperial family ties, he tries to undermine the stories of his actions as propaganda from his opposers and claim that he remains loyal to the government. This is the act of a desperate man; a man who, maybe, has realized that he has made a grave mistake. Masakado wanted to believe that his conquests were justified, yet based on his actions it is apparent that he was not and knew it. Not having a strong cause and knowing he made a mistake defines Masakado as a villain, not a hero.It is likely that Masakado’s position in society and experiences deluded him and was a contributing factor to his demise. In this time period of Japan, in an attempt to preserve the integrity of the imperial family, fourth generation members of the imperial family were removed from the bloodline by way of changing their family name. Taira was used in the renaming and is the surname of Masakado. This link to the imperial family would have affected Masakado’s view of himself in society. Being a known descendent, he would have felt a sense of entitlement that could create an egotistical mindset.The feeling of superiority would have amplified when his father used his influence to secure an internship in Kyoto with the government for his son. Expecting to obtain a full-time position in Kyoto, it would have been very disappointing to return home with no long term position or title. This event probably added to the aggressive nature of Masakado as an adult. Having been denied a chance to participate in the government, as he felt entitled to, Masakado from then on decides to take matters into his own hands working as if he holds the title which he never received.The sense of entitlement and his failure to succeed in Kyoto helped to define the character traits that motivate M asakado for the rest of his life. Taira no Masakado remains an important component of contemporary Japanese folklore. Natural disasters, economic downturns, and other misfortunes are often attributed to times when the shrine to Masakado is neglected. The fascination with this legend plays a taboo role in Japanese culture. The story reveals a man who is individualistic and bold in his opposition to authority.For a society which is group oriented and generally suppressed for most of its history, Masakado's legacy is intriguing and mysterious. Although interpretation of Masakado differs, his lack of a consistent cause and his hesitation suggests the actions of a villain. Feeling a sense of entitlement from his imperial ties and not being accepted into Kyoto’s bureaucracy were critical in his motivations. Leading the first recorded rebellion since the establishment of a unified government in Japan, Taira no Masakado has solidified himself into Japanese culture today.

Populism - Definition in American Politics

President  Donald Trump was repeatedly described as a populist during the 2016 presidential race. Trump styled himself as a populist during his flamboyantly provocative campaign, The New York Times wrote, claiming to hear, understand and channel the working-class Americans so wrongly ignored by other leaders. Asked Politico:  Is  Donald Trump the Perfect Populist, one with broader appeal to the right and the center than his predecessors in recent American political history? The Christian Science Monitor opined that Trumps unique populism promises a change in governance perhaps equal to parts of the New Deal or the early years of the Reagan revolution. But what, exactly, is populism? And what does it mean to be a populist? There are many definitions. Definition of Populism Populism is generally defined as a way of speaking and campaigning on behalf of the needs of the people or the little man as opposed to the well-to-do elite. Populist rhetoric frames issues such as the economy, for example, as the  angry, aggrieved and neglected struggling to overcome a corrupt oppressor, whoever that oppressor may be. George Packer, a veteran political journalist for The New Yorker, described populism as a stance and a rhetoric more than an ideology or a set of positions. It speaks of a battle of good against evil, demanding simple answers to difficult problems.   History of Populism Populism has its roots in the grassroots formation of the Peoples and Populist parties in the late 1800s. The Peoples Party was founded in Kansas in 1890 amid depression and a widespread belief among farmers and laborers that the government was dominated by large money interests, the political historian William Safire wrote. A national party with similar interests, the Populist Party, was founded a year later, in 1891. The national party fought for public ownership of railroads, the telephone system, and an income tax that would demand more from wealthier Americans. The latter idea is a common populist idea used in modern elections. It is similar to the Buffett Rule, which would raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans. The Populist Party died in 1908 but many of its ideals linger on today. The national partys platform read, in part: We meet in the midst of a nation brought to the verge of moral, political, and material ruin. Corruption dominates the ballot-box, the Legislatures, the Congress, and touches even the ermine of the bench. The people are demoralized; most of the States have been compelled to isolate the voters at the polling places to prevent universal intimidation and bribery. The newspapers are largely subsidized or muzzled, public opinion silenced, business prostrated, homes covered with mortgages, labor impoverished, and the land concentrating in the hands of capitalists. The urban workmen are denied the right to organize for self-protection, imported pauperized labor beats down their wages, a hireling standing army, unrecognized by our laws, is established to shoot them down, and they are rapidly degenerating into European conditions. The fruits of the toil of millions are boldly stolen to build up colossal fortunes for a few, unprecedented in the history of mankind; and the possessors of those, in turn, despise the republic and endanger liberty. From the same prolific womb of governmental injustice we breed the two great classes—tramps and millionaires. Populist Ideas Modern populism typically is sympathetic to the struggles of white, middle-class Americans and portrays Wall Street bankers, undocumented workers, and U.S. trade partners including China as evil.  Populist ideas including heavily taxing the wealthiest Americans, tightening security along the U.S. border with Mexico, raising the minimum wage, expanding Social Security and imposing stiff tariffs on trade with other countries in an attempt to keep American jobs from going overseas.   Populist Politicians The first real populist presidential candidate was the Populist Partys nominee for president in the 1892 election. The nominee, General James B. Weaver, won 22 electoral votes and more than 1 million actual votes. In modern times, Weavers campaign would have been considered a great success; independents typically garner only a small share of the vote. William Jennings Bryan is perhaps the most famous populist in American history. The Wall Street Journal once described Bryan as the Trump before Trump. His speech at the Democratic National Convention in 1896, which  was said to have roused the crowd to a frenzy, aimed to advance the interests of small Midwestern farmers who felt they were being taken advantage of by the banks. Bryan wanted to move to a bimetallic gold-silver standard.   Huey Long, who served as the governor of Louisiana and a U.S. senator, was also considered a populist. He railed against wealthy plutocrats and their bloated fortunes and proposed to impose steep taxes on the richest Americans and distribute the revenue to the poor still suffering from the effects of the Great Depression. Long, who had presidential aspirations, wanted to set a minimum annual income of $2,500. Robert M. La Follette Sr. was a congressman and governor of Wisconsin who took on corrupt politicians and big business, which he believed had a dangerously oversized influence on matters of public interest.   Thomas E. Watson of Georgia was an early populist and the partys vice presidential hopeful  in 1896. Watson had won a seat in Congress by supporting the reclamation of large tracts of land granted to corporations, abolishing national banks, eliminating paper money, and cutting taxes on low-income citizens, according to the New Georgia Encyclopedia.  He was  also  a southern demagogue and bigot, according to the Encyclopedia.  Watson wrote of the threat of immigrants to  America: The scum of creation has been dumped on us. Some of our principal cities are more foreign than American. The most dangerous and corrupting hordes of the Old World have invaded us. The vice and crime which they have planted in our midst are sickening and terrifying. What brought these Goths and Vandals to our shores? The manufacturers are mainly to blame. They wanted cheap labor: and they didn’t care a curse how much harm to our future might be the consequence of their heartless policy. Trump routinely inveighed against the establishment in his successful presidential campaign. He regularly promised to drain the swamp in Washington, D.C., an unflattering portrayal of the Capitol as a corrupt playground for plutocrats, special interests, lobbyists and fat, out-of-touch lawmakers. Decades of failure in Washington, and decades of special interest  dealing must come to an end. We have to break the cycle of corruption, and we have to give new voices a chance to go into government service, Trump stated.   The independent presidential candidate Ross Perot was similar in style and rhetoric to Trump. Perot fared well by building his campaign on voter resentment of the establishment, or the political elite, in 1992. He won a  startling 19 percent of the popular vote that year. Donald Trump and Populism So is Donald Trump a populist? He certainly used populist expressions during his campaign, portraying his supporters as American workers who have not seen their financial status improve since the end of the Great Recession and those neglected by the political and societal elite. Trump, and for that matter Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, spoke to a class of blue-collar, struggling middle-class voters who believe the economy was rigged. Michael Kazin, the author of  The Populist Persuasion, told Slate in 2016: Trump expresses one aspect of populism, which is anger at the establishment and various elites. He believes Americans have been betrayed by those elites. But the other side of populism is a sense of a moral people, people who’ve been betrayed for some reason and have a distinct identity, whether they are workers, farmers, or taxpayers. Whereas with Trump, I don’t really get much of a sense of who the people are. Of course journalists say he’s talking mostly to white working-class people, but he doesn’t say that. Wrote Politico: Trump’s platform combines positions that are shared by many populists but are anathema to movement conservatives—a defense of Social Security, a guarantee of universal health care, economic nationalist trade policies. President Barack Obama, who Trump succeeded in the White House, took issue with labeling Trump a populist, however. Said Obama: â€Å"Somebody else who has never shown any regard for workers, has never fought on behalf of social justice issues or making sure that poor kids are getting a decent shot at life or have health care — in fact, have worked against economic opportunity for workers and ordinary people, they don’t suddenly become a populist because they say something controversial in order to win votes. Indeed, some of Trumps critics accused him of phony populism, of using populist rhetoric during the campaign but of wanting to abandon his populist platform once in office. Analyses of Trumps tax proposals found that the biggest benefactors would be the wealthiest Americans. Trump, after winning the election, also recruited fellow billionaires and lobbyists to play roles in his White House. He also walked back some of his fiery campaign rhetoric on cracking down on Wall Street and rounding up and deporting immigrants who are living in the United States illegally.