Cjs 211 Ethical Dilemma

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

The issue is that the officer knows that husband drove while drunk and that the husband possibly physically hurt his wife. The officer didn’t not witness the husband driving nor does the officer see any injuries on the wife.

1. 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.

The husband has been drinking- slurred speech, staggering/ stumbling around.

The husband was in possession of the car keys to a single vehicle home

The husband failed a field sobriety test with a .20 reading (twice the limit)

The vehicle was still warm from use (even though the couple claim that the vehicle had not moved).

The officer is facing a moral issue of doing what he knows is the right thing and arresting the husband but he cannot due to the fact that there is no evidence of domestic violence nor did he witness the husband driving.

1. 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

beneficence

The husband would want the officers to believe that he didn’t drive while intoxicated

Wife

Non- injury

beneficence

She does not need the help from the police and hopes that the police will not arrest her husband

Officer Nixon/ Officer Rook

Justice

The police want to do the right thing the correct way. They both know that the wife is covering for the husband. They both know that the couple is lying. Even with this knowledge they cannot do anything without the truth or evidence.

Society

Justice/ Reparation

Society would want the husband arrested for his alleged domestic violence and for driving while intoxicated. In short, the criminal arrested for their crimes.

1. 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

Warn Offender

Arrest Offender

1. 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 offender after being warned will no longer do the crime or the offender will not commit the crime right then and there but will do so again at a later date

The offender will be taken away resulting that the crime will no longer be committed by that person. If the offender is arrested then there is a possibility of continued crime.

Will anyone be harmed if this alternative is chosen? If so, how will they be harmed? Consider families and derivative effects.

No if the offender abides and learns from the warning. Yes if the offender disregards the warning and continues to commit the crimes warned against. Could result in physical harm or even loss of life

No one is harmed

Would honoring an idea or value—such as personal, professional, or religious—make the alternative invalid?

The officers in this situation know the truth but by following guidelines they can do nothing, even though their preference would be to arrest the criminal

No

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.

By issuing a warning the officers would not be in any violation of the law or guidelines they are set to abide by.

The officers are expected to enforce the law and arrest criminals. In order for an arrest to take place probable cause and evidence is needed.