Deception has been utilized as one of the most valuable tools in investigative processes by law enforcement officers. This tool has been utilized in the criminal justice field for more than a century because of the view that its useful in helping investigative officers in uncovering the truth. As a result, investigative officers commonly utilize deception to conduct investigations, interrogations and in the testimonial process to help uncover the truth relating to the case/issue being investigated. However, the use of deception by investigating officers during investigation, interrogation and in the testimonial process has generated significant ethical concerns. Actually, this practice has generated two juxtaposing ethical behaviors that are characterized with significant ethical concerns in the criminal justice field. Investigative officers are encouraged and allowed to use deception and lie when carrying out investigations and interrogations in order to uncover the truth and eventually seek justice. This paper examines the ethics of deception by investigating officers with respect to the difference between deontological and ontological ethics.
Ethics of Lying
The use of deception by investigative officers during investigations, interrogations, and testimonial processes is an age-old practice in the criminal justice field. These officers are permitted and encouraged to use deception and lie in order to uncover the truth that will help in delivery of justice by the criminal justice system. This practice obtained significant relevance in the United States in 1969 in the Supreme court’s ruling in Frazier v. Cupp, a case that involved the interrogation of a homicide suspect. During the interrogation, the investigative officer lied to the homicide suspect that an accomplice has already implicated him in the murder. Due to the lie, the suspect was convinced to confess to the homicide (John E. Reid & Associates, n.d.). In its ruling in the case, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the use of deceit and trickery by investigative officers during investigations and interrogations...
References
Alpert, G.P. & Noble, J.J. (2008, November 17). Lies, True Lies, and Conscious Deception. Police Quarterly, 1-18. Retrieved from https://www.nlg-npap.org/sites/default/files/AlpertandNobleLies.pdf
Bayley, B. (2010, February 12). Noble Cause Corruption: Do the Ends Justify the Means? Retrieved November 10, 2017, from https://www.policeone.com/chiefs-sheriffs/articles/2003646-Noble-cause-corruption-Do-the-ends-justify-the-means/
Ciske, M. (2009, June 27). The Ethics of Police Deception. Retrieved from The Institute of Applied & Professional Ethics – Ohio University website: https://www.ohio.edu/ethics/1999-conferences/the-ethics-of-police-deception/index.html
John E. Reid & Associates. (n.d.). Lying to a Suspect: How Far Can an Investigator Go? Retrieved November 10, 2017, from http://policelink.monster.com/training/articles/1911-lying-to-a-suspect-how-far-can-an-investigator-go
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