Exam 10: Judgment Calls

Police may apply a "sliding scale" to

Police ought to be a part of life's scenery except in

Which classical theorist said that people cannot be trusted with their own decisions?

Sometimes laws are vague and therefore difficult to understand.

Laws can be

The "harm principle"

Discuss the difference between an ethical question and an ethical dilemma. First, consider examples from life in general. Then discuss examples from police work.

Edmund Burke was a classical liberal.

When police officers are making arrest/no arrest decisions, they are performing their __________ duties

When officers make justice decisions, they should

When maintaining order, and not dealing with law enforcement-oriented decisions, police officers spend their time calculating

When police are operating in the order maintenance mode, they are generally using

Which classical theorist said that individuals should be left alone to live their own lives without interference from the state or government?

So much time and effort has been spent since 1969 in the pursuit of the war on drugs that it is a very, very touchy subject in the police world. The overwhelming majority of police officers and administrators are committed "drug warriors." They accept America's drug laws and participate in the war willingly. On the other hand, not only are there a substantial number of citizens who are in favor of legalizing drugs, but a steadily increasing number of police officers, a "substantial minority," are as well. In the midst of this controversy, the American police officer must soldier on. Write an essay about victimless crimes, focusing in particular upon drug laws. Discuss the classic elements of victimless crimes, which of course include huge profits, an ongoing demand, and official corruption. Discuss how this corruption is created by the fact that (1) so much money is involved and, at the same time, (2) often there are no specifically "victimized" citizens present at times of potential arrests. (In fact, drug dealers and police officers are usually the only people present, and the dealers want the police to take some payoff money and "just go away.") Include a discussion of these realities in your essay and include the debate about how legalizing drugs might lessen police corruption of authority. Finally, take your own stand on the issues involved. Where are you with regard to, say, the legalization of drugs-marijuana (in particular)?

Which statement most closely fits John Stuart Mill's thoughts about people's personal lives and government power?

The drug war might be an exception to the "harm principle."

Discuss the idea that the two parts of our ethic to live by, beneficence and justice, can conflict. First consider examples from civilian life where they conflict. Then discuss police examples. In each case discuss why beneficence must be the controlling principle.

Characteristics of victimless crime include

What are the elements of the police officer's "craft"? How would you describe the multiple sorts of types of practical skills involved in being a good, competent officer?

For the police officer out on the street, academic learning is essential in every situation, all the time.