Deck 2: Choices,Values,and Ethics

Question 1

Acts of omission involve not doing something when one had a moral or legal duty to do something.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Police (or institutional)subculture refers to:

A)the formal rules and guidelines of policing as identified in codes of ethics.
B)the informal attitudes,values,and norms of policing.
C)procedural law as applied to the roles and practices of police officers.
D)efforts by police administrators to impose certain moral standards on officers.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Life,justice,and happiness are typically considered to be:

A)intrinsic goods.
B)instrumental goods.
C)intrinsic evils.
D)non-moral values.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following would be an example of police deviance?

A)Perjury
B)Accepting bribes
C)Use of excessive force
D)All of the above

Question 5

Although frowned upon formally,the informal values of police culture sometimes hold that accepting gifts from the public (e.g. ,free meals)is an acceptable way of supplementing income.

Question 6

The area of ethics which attempts to identify and prioritize moral values and principles and provide frameworks for moral decision-making is referred to as:

A)practical ethics.
B)normative ethics.
C)metaethics.
D)instrumental ethics.

Question 7

Because it is an intrinsic value/good,which of the following would be of most importance when making a moral decision?

A)Money
B)Status
C)Reputation
D)Integrity

Question 8

Based on the research of Sherman,which of the following is NOT one of the informal values that new police officers acquire through socialization?

A)Shows of disrespect for police authority should be met with punishment (arrest or use of force)
B)Officers should not hesitate to use force against those who deserve it
C)Due process merely protects criminals and should be ignored whenever an officer can get away with it
D)All of the above ARE key values introduced to new officers

Question 9

To be a proper subject of moral evaluation,conduct must be:

A)legal.
B)voluntary.
C)harmful.
D)rational.

Question 10

Just as goods can be intrinsic or instrumental,so too can evils.Using the intrinsic/instrumental distinction,we might consider death,slavery,and injustice to be examples of instrumental evil.

Question 11

Those things that we hold to be worthwhile and worth pursuing,such as freedom,happiness,and health,can be thought of as:

A)virtues.
B)values.
C)vices.
D)obligations.

Question 12

Which of the following is the term used to refer to the "choice of evils" defense,whereby a defendant argues that s/he engaged in criminal conduct to prevent some greater evil?

A)Coercion
B)Insanity
C)Necessity
D)Preventive

Question 13

People are more likely to engage in immoral activities if there is no apparent victim.

Question 14

Moral values always take priority over nonmoral values,and intrinsic values always take precedence over instrumental values.

Question 15

Which of the following would NOT be an example of a moral value?

A)Happiness
B)Tolerance
C)Physical strength
D)Honesty

Question 16

Consequentialist theories of moral decision-making would have us focus primarily on:

A)our relevant moral duties.
B)determining the course of action which will likely produce the best consequences.
C)the development of moral character.
D)the struggle to overcome moral vice.

Question 17

"Goods" that are valued as a means to some other good are referred to as:

A)intrinsic.
B)instrumental.
C)extraneous.
D)non-essential.

Question 18

Happiness,human dignity,equality,and fairness could all be considered values.

Question 19

In a situation requiring moral judgment -- such as a choice between being loyal to one's friend or honest -- intrinsic goods (e.g. ,honesty)always take priority over non-intrinsic goods (e.g. ,loyalty).

Question 20

Deontological theories of moral decision-making focus on:

A)the expected consequences of our actions.
B)our moral duties and obligations.
C)the virtuousness of our actions.
D)bringing benefit to ourselves through our decisions.

Question 21

Briefly distinguish between acts of omission and acts of commission,providing at least one example of each.

Question 22

Briefly describe the notion of police subculture,using at least one example to illustrate your response.