Crimjust Slippery Slope: What Are Some Examples

Crimjust

Slippery slope: What are some examples of the slippery slope, as it applies to criminal justice ethics? How can/should slippery slope issues be addressed from a leadership or administrative standpoint?

The concept of slippery slope is a metaphor used to describe the ways small ethical infractions can lead to larger and more damaging ones. For example, the question, "Does taking a free cup of coffee or a half price burger mean you are on a slippery slope to taking bribes from the guy who runs the local crack house?" relates to the concept of slippery slope, albeit in an exaggerated format (Smith, n.d.). The idea that accepting small gifts is innocent reveals fractured ethical thinking. If an officer thinks that it is alright to accept a small gift, then the cognitive process used can be extended to accepting big gifts.

The slippery slope concept is easy to understand. It is more difficult, however, to encourage law officers to avoid the small perks that create a normative culture for corruption. Ethics in law enforcement, or any other field, requires an organizational approach. The whole organizational culture must be taken into account, so that it is no longer normative for officers to accept small bribes or perks and thus fall down the slippery slope. It is especially important for leaders in law enforcement to set an example through their ethical behavior.

Discretion: What exactly does discretion mean from a criminal justice perspective? Is discretion related to being discreet, as in respecting privacy and confidentiality -- or is it more important to discuss discretion in terms of the authority to make decisions such as whether to prosecute, and which charges to bring against the suspect? Why is discretion important in criminal justice proceedings? What are some abuses of discretion that may occur, which could lead to miscarriage of justice?

Discretion is a complex criminal justice concern. There are many different examples of discretion in criminal justice, at each stage of the criminal justice process. The term discretion n criminal justice is not related to the use of discretion in other areas, as it is more commonly used to refer to "the discretion to" do something. This means that discretion entails personal responsibility among law enforcement officials for making sound and just decisions. Discretion can more generally be used to refer to good judgment, which is a highly desirable trait in criminal justice.

Police corruption: How common is police corruption, anyway? What causes corruption? What are the most common types of police corruption, and when are they most likely to manifest? What are departments doing to prevent or mitigate instances of corruption on the force? Are there any situations in which corruption can be condoned? Is corruption part of police culture?