Deck 1: The Importance of Ethics in Criminal Justice

Question 1

Ethical relativism assumes that:

A) All issues are related.
B) What is right or ethical may vary from person to person or culture to culture.
C) Answers to ethical questions are relative to the etiology of the problem.
D) All people on the planet are related to each other in a symbiotic relationship.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Ethical pluralism argues that in most situations:

A) There are a lot of alternatives but only one can be correct.
B) The principle with which the greatest number of people agree is the correct principle.
C) There are many truths rather than a single truth.
D) Ethical absolutism applies only when there are a large number of ethical options.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The author of the text suggests that supporting and upholding the execution of persons 16 or younger violates the principle of:

A) Relativism.
B) Absolutism.
C) Fallibility.
D) Tolerance.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The principle of understanding requires that we:

A) appreciate the meaning of ethical standards in other cultures from the perspective of those cultures
B) accept the existence of differences but deny diversity in ethical standards
C) be prepared to stand up against moral wrongdoing by creating more laws
D) be prepared to learn from other cultures yet have our own moral codes

Question 5

The central notion to is that one's conduct must take into account moral issues.

A) Metaethics
B) Normative ethics
C) Applied ethics
D) Method ethics

Question 6

Which of the following teaches the value of an open mind, of tolerance, and understanding?

A) Ethical relativism
B) Cultural relativism
C) Extreme or individual relativism
D) Ethical absolutism

Question 7

Proponents of which ethical theory argue that every society has a different moral code that explains which acts are permitted or not?

A) Ethical relativism
B) Cultural relativism
C) Extreme or individual relativism
D) Ethical absolutism

Question 8

Which of the following is a major problem with cultural relativism?

A) It provides answers to issues and spurs debate.
B) It operates as a moral isolationism
C) Values of different historical periods are valid throughout time
D) Cultures are totally isolated from one another

Question 9

What type of ethics is concerned with methods, language, and logical structure?

A) Metaethics
B) Normative ethics
C) Applied ethics
D) Method ethics

Question 10

Among the reasons commonly given for studying ethics, which of the following are not mentioned:

A) It is crucial that ethical decisions are made, and the study of ethics enables the development of tools that enhance ethical decision making
B) It is important to have the capacity to point to moral reasoning in justifying behavior, and the study of ethics develops that capacity
C) The study of ethics increases sensitivity to issues of right and wrong and the right way to conduct oneself, and aids in identifying acts that have a moral content
D) All of the following are reasons commonly given

Question 11

According to Holmes (1998), which of the following agree that there is moral right and wrong but contend what is right for one, may be wrong for another?

A) Ethical relativism
B) Cultural relativism
C) Extreme or individual relativism
D) Ethical absolutism

Question 12

Ethics involves making judgments about:

A) how to live a "good" life
B) what "good" means
C) what is absolute truth
D) what is right or wrong

Question 13

The field of ethics is also known as:

A) Moral philosophy
B) Moralography
C) Post-modernism
D) Moralology

Question 14

Normative ethics is a form of ethics devised to assist in:

A) Deciding which system of ethics is best.
B) Making decisions about the proper behavior.
C) Deciding what is good or right in the abstract
D) Deciding which government or agency policies are best.

Question 15

The branch of ethics concerned with the question of what "good" means is:

A) normative ethics
B) metaethics
C) applied ethics
D) philosophy

Question 16

The study of ethics is especially important in criminal justice because:

A) unethical behavior is more rampant in criminal justice that other fields
B) ethics is not studied at police academies
C) CJ professionals have historically ignored ethics in their decision making
D) the potential of abuse of discretion and the powers of arrest and use of force society grants to law enforcement personnel

Question 17

Ethical absolutism assumes that:

A) There is an eternal, unchanging moral law that applies everywhere to everyone.
B) There are absolutely no moral universals.
C) There are many possible ethical truths.
D) No set of moral rules is absolutely true in all times and all places.

Question 18

The principles of understanding, tolerance, standing up and fallibility are all parts of the theory of ethical:

A) Relativism.
B) Pluralism.
C) Absolutism.
D) exoneration

Question 19

According to Hinman (1998), under which principle should people be prepared to stand up to what he calls "egregious moral wrongdoing"?

A) The principle of understanding
B) The principle of tolerance
C) The principle of standing up against evil
D) The principle of fallibility

Question 20

Which of the following is considered valid regardless of the thought and feeling?

A) Ethical relativism
B) Cultural relativism
C) Extreme or individual relativism
D) Ethical absolutism

Question 21

Natural laws are said to:

A) Be laws that govern human behavior
B) be thought of as incorporating human nature and goals humans naturally seek
C) represent a search for moral absolutes
D) all of the above

Question 22

Steffen (2012) argued:

A) A proposal to bridge the gap between ethical relativism and ethical absolutism
B) A proposal to bridge the gap between ethical absolutism and lived experience
C) A proposal to bridge the gap between ethical theory and lived experiences
D) A proposal to bridge the gap between ethical theory and classism

Question 23

laws conflict with ethical standards.

A) Always
B) Never
C) Maybe
D) Sometimes

Question 24

The idea of natural law is:

A) is almost identical to religious law
B) we can identify some factors that are common to our human nature
C) that a behavior is natural because God commands it
D) God commands a law because it is natural

Question 25

Natural law theory is closest to which of the following?

A) ethical relativism
B) ethical pluralism
C) moral absolutism
D) cultural relativism

Question 26

An example of a prosecutorial ethical situation discussed in the chapter is:

A) When they decide to seek the death penalty in the case instead of life imprisonment
B) When they decide to seek the maximum penalty under three-strikes legislation
C) When they decide to withhold evidence from the defense
D) When they decide to put a witness on the stand they know is lying

Question 27

Legislation, statutes, and regulations made by governments are known as:

A) Natural law
B) Relative ethics
C) Law
D) Metaethics

Question 28

An ethical dilemma can arise when a person:

A) Is faced with choices that involve conflicting ethical principles.
B) Knowingly decides to violate the clearly applicable ethical principle.
C) Is punished for making an ethical decision.
D) Cannot determine which ethical principles apply.

Question 29

Divine Command Theory argues that:

A) religion is the only basis one should use to make moral decisions
B) natural law and religion command that individuals do the right thing
C) What is morally right is what God directs, and conversely, what is morally wrong is what God prohibits.
D) we are unable to be critical thinkers if we do not value religion

Question 30

Hare (1987) argues moral judgments must be able to be applied .

A) Differently
B) Universally
C) Continuously
D) Sparingly

Question 31

The difference between an ethical dilemma and an ethical issue is that:

A) The former is more important than the latter
B) the latter involves a public policy question
C) the latter involves questions of individual ethical conduct
D) the former involves conflicting principles, while the latter does not

Question 32

Which famous philosopher discussed the issue of whether divine command theory was concerned with power of the gods to command?

A) Plato
B) Aristotle
C) Socrates
D) Euripides

Question 33

Ethical issues:

A) Do not require individual decision making beyond the decision of whether one is in favor of, or opposed to, a particular social issue
B) Do not require most individuals to decide the issue does not mean an individual is helpless to influence public debate on a social issue
C) Usually and issue of public policy
D) All of the above

Question 34

Which of the following beliefs do not reflect of a divine command theory believer?

A) ethical standards of conduct are derived from the interpretation of religion
B) divine commands will necessarily have to be drawn from a variety of religious texts
C) the divine commands right conduct because it is right
D) divine commands are those that arise from superstition

Question 35

Using institutional time and materials for personal gain unrelated to legitimate work activity is an example of an:

A) Ethical problem in the use of authority
B) Ethical problem in the relationship between personal and professional interests
C) Ethical problem in personal and professional commitments to clients
D) Ethical issue in criminal justice and public policy

Question 36

Which of the following does not reflect the views of an ethical pluralist?

A) there is no possibility that there are moral absolutes
B) we can learn from the morality of other societies
C) we must accept the fact that there are differences in the morality of different societies
D) we should be willing to have our own society's shortcomings exposed

Question 37

The use of authority to promote personal values is an example of an:

A) Ethical problem in the use of authority
B) Ethical problem in the relationship between personal and professional interests
C) Ethical problem in personal and professional commitments to clients
D) Ethical issue in criminal justice and public policy

Question 38

Kane (1996) argues for an approach that emphasizes ethical pluralism that does not imply indifference. He calls this approach:

A) Closeness
B) Openness
C) Correctness
D) Demonstrative

Question 39

Which of the following is the first of the 6 recommended steps in solving an ethical dilemma?

A) identifying available options
B) collecting all relevant facts
C) identifying the existence of an ethical dilemma and clearly stating it
D) identifying relevant personal values

Question 40

Personal values are:

A) Deciding what is good or right in the abstract
B) Deciding which government or agency policies are best.
C) What individuals care about and what they think is important
D) Deciding which system of ethics is best.

Question 41

The field of ethics is a branch of the field of philosophy.

Question 42

Crime and public opinion is an example of an:

A) Ethical issue resulting from policing policies
B) Ethical problem in information sharing
C) Ethical problem dealing with human rights issues in the criminal justice system
D) Ethical issue in the media reporting of crime

Question 43

Capital punishment is an example of an:

A) Ethical problem in the use of authority
B) Ethical problem in the relationship between personal and professional interests
C) Ethical problem in personal and professional commitments to clients
D) Ethical issue in criminal justice and public policy

Question 44

Policing policy in domestic violence cases is an example of an:

A) Ethical issue resulting from policing policies
B) Ethical problem in information sharing
C) Ethical problem dealing with human rights issues in the criminal justice system
D) Ethical issue in the media reporting of crime

Question 45

The politicization of crime is an example of an:

A) Ethical issue resulting from policing policies
B) Ethical problem in information sharing
C) Ethical problem dealing with human rights issues in the criminal justice system
D) Ethical issue in the media reporting of crime

Question 46

Values do not include what individuals care about and what they think are important.

Question 47

An ethical or cultural relativist will not condemn practices in other cultures that are required by that culture.

Question 48

Increased surveillance of citizens in society is an example of an:

A) Ethical problem in the use of authority
B) Ethical problem in the relationship between personal and professional interests
C) Ethical problem in personal and professional commitments to clients
D) Ethical issue in criminal justice and public policy

Question 49

Ethical pluralism and ethical relativism are similar in that both tend to reject moral or ethical absolutes.

Question 50

Ethics of withholding information from a client, the court, or police, is an example of an:

A) Ethical issue resulting from policing policies
B) Ethical problem in information sharing
C) Ethical problem dealing with human rights issues in the criminal justice system
D) Ethical issue in the media reporting of crime

Question 51

The study of ethics is important for criminal justice personnel in that it can provide tools and perspectives on how to properly exercise discretion.

Question 52

Cultural and ethical relativism are similar approaches to ethics.

Question 53

The principles of normative ethics help us decide which government policies are best.

Question 54

The study of ethics decreases sensitivity to issues of right and wrong.

Question 55

Hare argues that we initially use an intuitive level of moral thinking when we consider ethical dilemmas.

Question 56

Engaging in or promoting professional activities that are contrary to personal values is an example of an:

A) Ethical problem in the use of authority
B) Ethical problem in the relationship between personal and professional interests
C) Ethical problem in personal and professional commitments to clients
D) Ethical issue in criminal justice and public policy

Question 57

Truth in sentencing policies is an example of an:

A) Ethical problem in the use of authority
B) Ethical problem in the relationship between personal and professional interests
C) Ethical problem in personal and professional commitments to clients
D) Ethical issue in criminal justice and public policy

Question 58

Use of force is an example of an:

A) Ethical issue resulting from policing policies
B) Ethical problem in information sharing
C) Ethical problem dealing with human rights issues in the criminal justice system
D) Ethical issue in the media reporting of crime

Question 59

Police gratuities do not raise ethical issues.

Question 60

Rules or practices relating to retention or disposal of court records is an example of an:

A) Ethical issue resulting from policing policies
B) Ethical problem in information sharing
C) Ethical problem dealing with human rights issues in the criminal justice system
D) Ethical issue in the media reporting of crime

Question 61

What are the four principles an ethical pluralist would adopt?

Question 62

How are normative ethics different from applied ethics?

Question 63

What is the basic argument of moral absolutism?

Question 64

What does ethical pluralism allow us to do?

Question 65

Give a brief example of an ethical dilemma that might confront a police officer?

Question 66

What is an example of an ethical issue in public or criminal justice policy?

Question 67

How does the theory of ethical pluralism help one steer a course between ethical relativism and ethical absolutism. Please be sure to provide examples.

Question 68

Does ethical pluralism succeed in providing serious guidance to ethical problems? Do its four principles provide true guides, or do they incorporate their own relativism? Please be sure to explain your position and provide examples.

Question 69

Discuss, describe, compare and contrast ethical and cultural relativism with ethical absolutism. Please be sure to provide examples.

Question 70

What is the purpose of normative ethics?

Question 71

Describe the debate centered on religion and ethical standards that suggests conduct is right because God commands it and God commands right conduct because it is right.

Question 72

Briefly summarize the 6 steps in analyzing/solving an ethical dilemma. Give an example at each step.

Question 73

What is the basic argument of ethical relativism?

Question 74

What is "natural law?"

Question 75

Give a brief example of an ethical dilemma in the use of authority?