Introduction
Codes of ethics are widely used by organizations to set the standard of professional behavior and ensure that members of these entities behave in a way that is moral. Unlike legal policies, these codes typically do not have a formal enforcement mechanism, as any professional is expected to behave in a coherent manner. This paper will focus on the code of ethics for criminologists created by the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology. Moreover, such aspects as the functions and goals of the existing ethical code, its role and value, positive and negative sides, as well as relevance and development will be discussed. The Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology’s Ethics Code is essential for one’s professional identity because this document sets the basic principles of behavior that make criminology specialists trustworthy and reliable as experts.
The Function and Purpose of the Code
The Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology has created a code of ethics that each criminology professional should use in their practice. The goal outlined by this professional organization is to provide members of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology with guidelines on how to adhere to the Society’s goals and maintain the highest ethical standards in their work (ANZOC, 2000). Additionally, this code ensures a set of guiding principles to help members of the Society make wise decisions in the conduct of criminological research, writing, administration, and teaching and increase awareness of the ethical dilemmas that confront criminologists. The Code of Ethics is the extension of the broader ethical principles that apply to the professional field. The fundamental building block of the criminal justice system is ethics (Prenzler, 2021). Thus, for a criminology specialist, it is essential to have a professional code of ethics that reaffirms that the individual works ethically and that the product of their work can be trusted and relied on in legal proceedings. Codes of ethics are crucial in helping the culture form the moral standards that define crime and determine what constitutes a suitable punishment. It is an essential subject since an ethically operated criminal justice system maximizes effectiveness (Emma, 2020). Consequently, for criminologists’ the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology Code of Ethics sets some of the basic principles of behavior. Therefore, by ensuring that criminology specialists behave ethically, society can influence the communities and affect the rates of crimes as people will trust the justice system.
Applying the Code
The Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology’s Code of Ethics will become the basis for daily activities in the future profession in the field of criminology. Mainly, ANZOC (2000) has some general statements about the advancement of criminology as a scientific field and an integral part of the criminal justice system. Therefore, to abide by this code, it will be possible to not only investigate the crime but also invest time into advancing criminology as a scientific field and disseminating the knowledge. Thus, one of aspects is to engage in research work and other types of activities that target the promotion of criminology as opposed to merely performing routine tasks. The role and value of this code of ethics are in the direction that it sets for criminology professionals and their future. For example, the Board of Criminology (n.d.) states that every person in this field should use the code of ethics, as it is their primary responsibility. Ethics and values are interchangeably linked, and therefore, the values of a criminology specialist are indirectly outlined in this code of ethics. However, there is a difference between ethics and values, and according to Barsky (2019), values are beliefs about what is right or wrong held by a person. On the other hand, ethics are linked to deciding what the correct thing to do is. Generally, while morals and ethics restrain, values inspire, and one cannot exist without the other. Therefore, this code of ethics applied in connection with personal values can help professional act in the most appropriate manner in my position.
Code Strengths
A strong and well-developed ethical code is one of the keys to the successful functioning of the activities of a group of professionals. Additionally, it strengthens the overall brand and assists one in establishing credibility and trust with stakeholders (Prenzler, 2021). With such a code, people are aware of what is expected from them as they perform their job responsibilities. When the organization has a documented code of ethics, professionals can operate from the same playbook, from the specialists at the top of the organization, those in the executive suite, to the lowest member of the team. Moreover, this aspect also applies to consultants and contractors. A code of ethics aids in defining company’s identity and supports its entire mission. In the case of The Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology s Code of Ethics, the main strength of this document is that it is succinct and easy to read and memorize. The organization chooses to use a simple form and describe its ethics in simple statements from five to seven words each, making this code of ethics easy to understand and apply. In contrast to this, some organizations use codes of ethics that are several pages long and which require one to read numerous pages of text before beginning professional practice. However, if a person is raised in a community that values ethics, they already have a basic understanding of its main principles and do not require an extensive explanation of each one. This code of ethics requires each professional to report cases of unethical behavior. On the other hand, there are different negative sides that have their own characteristic impact.
Code Limitations
As with any other policy or recommendation, The Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology has its limitations. Criminal justice is a set of policies and institutions used by governments to maintain social order, reduce crime, discourage future crimes, and punish lawbreakers through both criminal prosecution and rehabilitative programs. The moral standards that guide the sanction are known as ethics. Lawmakers enact laws using ethical principles as a guide. Social justice and ethics are related in that ethics aids in determining what is right or wrong when it comes to pros and cons. However, some instances provide the professionals with challenging moral decisions. This code of ethics does not provide an assessment of the best course of action one must take when faced with such a scenario. Ad hominem legal defense strategies and developing relationships with prisoners (Prenzler, 2021). However, criminal justice ethics may also include more general ethical issues that have significant particularized manifestations within the context of criminal justice, such as those relating to human rights, loyalty, impartiality, endangerment, and other issues that are more general in nature but have important particularized expressions within the criminal justice system (Banks, 2018). The code should cover how larger frameworks and issues have an impact on criminal justice ethics to the extent that criminal justice ethics is understood narrowly, as it frequently is in courses and books designed for people who are or desire to be criminal justice practitioners.
Relevance
This ethical code has a number of features that affect its relevance and relevance; therefore, it is necessary to consider the topic related to the peculiarities of the behavior of specialists, which affects society. This particular code was written in 2000 and has not been updated since, which poses another problem (ANZOC, 2000). Since 2000 some of the social and professional norms have changed, and some social issues have been brought to the attention of the general public. Having the reflection on these in the code of ethics is a necessity. Moreover, the use of technology and the internet has changed the way criminologists operate, which requires the organization to make a revision to its current practices. Some of the criminal justice issues that became very prominent in recent years are not highlighted in this code of ethics. For instance, a discussion about the judicial treatment of drug offenders should be responsive to bigger questions about the social context of and appropriate responses to drug use, the justification for incarceration, as well as a general consideration of the justification and purposes of punishment (Prenzler, 2021). Some of these more significant issues also highlight the degree to which ethical issues in criminal justice may be founded on contested and shifting quasi-empirical facts, such as whether waging a “war on drugs” is inherently biased and likely to succeed. A criminal justice specialist will be more inclined to disclose any ethical lapses to the organization’s leaders if these rules of conduct are in writing. By setting a positive example, one could inspire others to do the same. The establishment of criminal justice ethics as a distinct academic topic is very recent, and to some extent, it is preceded, even though there has always been some ethical thinking on criminal justice concerns.
One Theme Development
As a student and a future criminology professional, I will be affected by the standards stated in the Code of Ethics. This is how we define illegal behavior in accordance with our moral norms since ethics is the cornerstone of criminal justice. The law is completely subject to the logic of ethics and that is why it has its relevance. Our constitutional rights are upheld by ethics, which also governs our legal system. The legislators are guided by ethics while crafting the best laws. When dealing with citizens who breach the law, ethics determines how we execute the law, ensuring that we act morally. A criminal justice specialist must be able to defend their client honestly while placing the burden of proof on the prosecution. A criminal must be proven guilty, so the defense attorney must provide a reasonable opportunity for that person. Acting ethically is not about getting the best result possible in a criminal case. It is about providing the greatest possible representation of it. There should not be a presumption that criminologists must behave improperly and unethically (Prenzler, 2021). Consequently, the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology can be used as a reference in criminal trials to show that the evidence was collected improperly or that specialists acted in a way that is immoral and, therefore, the criminal justice system will be compromised. Rules have been drafted in a particular manner. People can follow the text of the law or its spirit, and we should anticipate attorneys to do both. Even though it is important, the way individuals interact with criminal justice professionals is sometimes ignored when considering ethics. People’s willingness to cooperate with the system and share information must be considered. This covers everything from serving on a jury to reporting local criminal activities on one’s own. Thus, this code of ethics can be developed in the future, however, it continues to be a reliable source of the foundations of activity in the field of criminology.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it should be noted that for specialists in the field of criminology, the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology’s Code of Ethics plays an essential role in developing and improving professional qualities and knowledge. Its application in the profession allows for meeting the necessary standards of the law, which is reflected in considering the requirements for the behavior of specialists in various situations and fields of activity. This document’s positive aspects are related to improving the overall brand of criminology work, which improves mutual understanding and trust between stakeholders. Despite the various negative aspects, which are determined by various problems with difficult moral choices, this ethical code has its relevance and can be actively used as a basis for the behavior of specialists. The creation and successful functioning of the ethical infrastructure of the profession is crucial for improving the ethics of the professional community and its moral improvement. In this case, the main feature is a comprehensively balanced ethical program created, assuming the peculiarities of professional culture. The concepts of professional ethics are the basis for the formation of ethical motivation for creative work.
References
The Australian and New Zealand society of criminology (ANZOC). (2000). Code of ethics.
Banks, C. (2018). Criminal justice ethics: Theory and practice. Oxford University Press.
Barsky, E. (2019). Ethics and values in social work: An integrated approach for a comprehensive curriculum. Oxford University Press.
The Board of Criminology. (n.d.). Code of Ethics.
Emma, L. (2020). The advantages of a code of ethics in organizations.
Prenzler, T. (2021). Ethics and accountability in criminal justice: Towards a universal standard. Routledge.