The main topic of the course was the close relationship between ethics and criminal justice. Every member of the law enforcement system faces an ethical dilemma at some point in their service. According to the theory of the social contract, justice professionals receive the right to protect the interests of citizens. Failure to comply with moral and ethical principles leads to a violation of the social contract theory, loss of public confidence, and undermining of the main purpose of the existence of law enforcement agencies. The purpose of the course is to solve moral dilemmas with concrete examples to improve the work of all law enforcement systems.
The most interesting parts of the course were real examples and cases that could have been solved differently. Thinking over how to act in a given situation based on the position of several parties is a useful practice for developing critical thinking. In addition, the topic of ethics in law enforcement structures is extremely relevant due to the increase in cases of police abuse of power and violence in correctional institutions.
The materials studied are useful regardless of the future career path. The study of ethical principles is beneficial for the development of empathy, a respectful attitude towards all members of society. Every person, not necessarily working in law enforcement, will face a situation of moral choice. The course prepares me for such situations and allows me not to forget that it is necessary to be guided by moral and ethical principles in any situation.
The course raises awareness of the complexity of the work of law enforcement, the importance of adhering to ethical principles, and developing critical thinking skills. The course is connected with the disciplines of ethics and psychology, delving into moral and ethical choice and developing it on specific examples. The course significantly deepens the understanding of the functioning of the police and judicial system. Before that, my knowledge was limited only by the experience of communicating with representatives of the law, but now I understand more about these structures. I assumed that the work of law enforcement was difficult, but now I understand that decisions that can be called wrong are not always made according to the person’s desire. My understanding of the ethics of human relations has been greatly enhanced by the realization that the best way out of a situation does not always benefit everyone involved.