More than replacing a Code of Ethics, solutions to the issue might revolve around simply understanding, adopting, and enforcing codes that are already in place. For instance, the IACP code of ethics for law enforcement has four major themes that would clearly handle most situations: 1) Fairness towards everyone -- the public, clients, the accused, colleagues, etc. Fairness also implies the maxim of not using one's power to take advantage of the public (e.g. bribes for service, etc.); 2) Service -- Public service is a calling -- the community holds law enforcement personnel to a high standard, and expects service to be part of the regular job description; 3) Importance of the law -- Upholding the Constitution or the statues of the law that are mandated by the profession, and; 4) the importance of personal conduct -- law enforcement professionals must hold a standard of behavior that is consistent and appropriate for their position. Society has given them their trust, now in turn; the professional must earn and prove that the trust given is warranted (Pollock, 2012, pp. 113-14).
Using the principles of utilitarianism and deontology, we must combine the notion of the ends and the means to a standard of ethical conduct. Humans being human there are potentials for corruption, graft, greed and criminal behavior. It would be...
We could base this on the model of Corporate Social Responsibility, for instance. This is the notion that in the modern world, stakeholders have higher expectations than ever before and to prevent the government from interfering and regulating or overseeing, the industry will work out issues on its own to ensure that the public trust is maintained (See: Quirk, et al., eds., 2010). Perhaps each association involved in the criminal justice industry could do the same?
REFERENCES
Banks, J. (2004). The Importance of Ethics in Criminal Justice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Retrieved April 2013 from: http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/4031_Banks_Chapter_1_Proof.pdf
Chery, D. (May 7, 2009). Judges on Wrong Side of the Law. CBS News. Retrieved April 2013 from: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/08/04/national/main566433.shtml
IIT (Illinois Institute of Technology. (2012). Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions. Ethics.itt.edu. Retrieved April 2013 from: http://ethics.iit.edu/
Pollock, J. (2012). Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions in Criminal Justice. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Quirk, H., et al., eds. (2010). Regulation and Criminal Justice: Innovations in Policy and Research. New York and London: Cambridge University Press.
