write a positive response:

Ethical Behavior in Corrections

In 2013, the Baltimore City Detention Centre hit the national headlines in a widely publicized ethical scandal when thirteen correctional officers were indicted after committing significant misconduct. These officers were in collaboration with the Black Guerrilla Family gang, which brought drugs, cellular phones, and other illegal items into the facility and, in other instances, were involved with inappropriate personal and sexual affairs with people in incarceration (Marimow and Wagner, 2013). The case demonstrates the way the space between the opportunity and stress and the institutional culture may contribute to the principles of unethical actions in corrections. It is also an actual case study to discuss the Front-Page Test and the aspect of rationalization in making ethical decisions.

The officers acted in an unethical way systematically and intentionally. The officers took advantage of professional boundaries and accepted bribes, which in turn promoted the influence of the gang and interfered with the safety and rights of the inmates in the institution, and weakened the institution's security directly. All the actions were moments of a clear violation of the legal requirements, department policies, and ethics in the work (American Civil Liberties Union [ACLU], n.d.). There are individual moral shortcomings also included in the officer's decisions, and these are coupled with a lack of concern with the overall effects of their actions on the correctional system and the trust of the people. Their actions vividly demonstrate how personal interests and the lure of deviant norms can often eclipse true professional responsibility.

Another major point in this case is that the officers must have never expected to see the light of day concerning the reporting of their wrongdoings. The Front-Page Test, which presents the question of whether a person would make a similar decision in case it was publicly reported, states that one of the most essential ethical issues was left out. It is also possible that had the officers taken into consideration the possibility of media scrutiny, they would have realized that the actions they took were unjustifiable, both legally and morally (De Amicis, 2005). This is an example of a flawed estimation by all humans to believe that no one will find out, or no organization will tolerate an ethical wrongdoing. It further discusses the significance of ethical foresight in corrections, where numerous consequences may be extended to their colleagues and inmates at large.

Rationalization played a crucial role in influencing the actions of the officers. Tang (1998) lists that to lessen the guilt and to also hold to a positive self-concept, people reinterpret otherwise unethical actions. The police officers in the case of Baltimore might have believed that it did not really hurt to smuggle contraband or create a relationship with an inmate, or they might have believed that these practices were commonplace and consequently justified. Henry (1998) adds that correctional staff engaging in stress or perceived undervalued may find misconduct as a way of compensating or coping. Also, Worley and Worley (2011) stress that the normalization of debt in institutional culture will make the staff feel that the unethical conduct is a normal practice and no longer something wrong. Both these rationalizations demonstrate the intricate interplay between personal goals and motives, psychological processes, and organizational context, which can compromise ethical judgment.

The aftermath of such activities was vast. Other than the direct legal consequences of the actions by the officers, their actions undermined the society in their perception of the correctional process, institutional safety, and the rights of detainees The case illustrates that ethical decision-making involves more than simply adhering to rules; it requires an awareness of how one's actions can impact others, the ethical considerations that should guide individual choices, and the need to resist the psychological temptation to rationalize one's decisions. Using the Front-Page Test and rationalization, the correctional professionals might have some essential critical insights on how to behave in an ethical manner, which supports the significance of anticipation, responsibility, and integrity as a professional.

To sum up, the Baltimore City Detention Centre scandal can be considered a convenient example to explore ethical failures in corrections. It singles out a high-profile case, outlines the unethical judgments, and shows how the officers made an erroneous judgment about citizens, and reflects upon the rationalization processes that enable misconduct to continue to occur. Investigation of such cases leads to the idea that being conscious is a crucial element, decision-making frameworks, such as the Front-Page Test, should be applied, and actions at the organizational level should be carried out to avoid the misuse and to ensure the confidence of the community.