HUMN232 – Criminal Justice Ethics Transcript
Working in the criminal justice system, every decision requires balancing concerns such as prosecuting the
guilty, respecting the rights of the accused, protecting victims, and creating a safe community.
In this scenario, you are a police detective, and, along with your partner, you handle the majority of
homicide cases in your town. A woman in your city was seen walking alone at night and was later found
brutally raped, beaten and left for dead. She is now in a coma.
(.
,
Earlier that evening, a gang of young men was seen in the area, assaulting and threatening passersby.
The responding officers picked up two members ofthe gang, 14years of age, near the location ofthe crime
after they fled questioning by the police. Your partner has just finished interviewing both of the suspects in
separate interrogation rooms. Both youths have records for robbery and assault. While entitled to having
their parents present, no significant effort was made to find them. While it is department policy to videotape
important interviews, your partner did not tape either interview. Your partner comes to your desk and tells
you that they both have confessed to the attack. When you ask your partner about the missing parents and
the lack of videotape, he says, don’t worry about it. They are both guilty as sin. We can close the case.
You are fairly certain that your partner probably crossed the line on his interview, which is why he
conducted the interview alone. However, you are convinced that they are both guilty. What are you going to
do? ,
The criminal investigation has been underway for several months and has received a great deal of publicity.
The case has risen to national prominence as an example of how today’s youth no longer respects
fundamental social values, television and video game violence has desensitized young men to the
consequences of crimes such as assault and rape, and as a demonstration of the inability of the police to
keep the streets safe for law-abiding citizens. A conviction will certainly vindicate the police and district
attorney’s office handling of the crime. The victim still lies in a coma