Criminal Justice/Criminology

Rushworth Kidder talks about genuine ethical dilemmas as tough choices in which individuals face right vs. right situations (as opposed to right vs. wrong situations). He goes on to argue that most ethical dilemmas fit one of four possible patterns identified in Ch. 1 by Rushworth Kidder. Describe a personal example of a 'right vs. right' ethical dilemma you have faced in the past. Answer the questions in the following order. All answers must be in complete sentences. Describe the right vs. right ethical dilemma you faced. Which type of right vs. right dilemma is this based on Kidder's reading? Explain why. (Truth vs. Loyalty, Individual vs. Community, Short term vs. Long term, or Justice vs. Mercy [another way to describe mercy is compassion]) What were the moral considerations behind the choices you were faced with? (This includes reviewing all of the facts and identifying all moral dilemmas for all parties involved). What was the outcome of your ethical dilemma? In other words, what did you do? What was the reasoning behind your choice? Part 2: Consider the following dilemma: You are a police officer patrolling late at night and see a car weaving back and forth across lanes of traffic. You easily suspect either DUI or some form of distracted driving so you turn on your siren and lights and the car pulls over. Before you approach the car, the driver stumbles out of the car, obviously intoxicated. There is no question that the driver meets the legal definition of intoxication. The driver also happens to be your favorite person (e.g. mother, father, sibling, cousin, best friend, grandma, grandpa, coach, teacher, etc.). Imagine the same scenario and the person is a complete stranger. What would you do and why? (We will revisit this same scenario in Module 2 once we have covered ethical systems).

Sample Solution

Personal Example of a "Right vs. Right" Ethical Dilemma

One personal example of a "right vs. right" ethical dilemma that I have faced in the past is the following:

Situation: I was working as a software engineer at a small startup company. We were working on a new product that was very important to the company's success. However, we were behind schedule and there was a lot of pressure to meet the deadline.

Moral Considerations:

On the one hand, I wanted to be a loyal employee and help the company succeed. This meant working long hours and meeting the deadline, even if it meant cutting some corners.
On the other hand, I didn't want to compromise the quality of the product. I knew that if we rushed the product out the door, it would likely be buggy and unreliable. This could damage the company's reputation and hurt its customers.

Full Answer Section

Outcome: I decided to talk to my manager about the situation. I explained that I was concerned about the quality of the product if we rushed it out the door. My manager agreed that quality was important, but he also said that the deadline was critical. He told me to do my best to meet the deadline, but to let him know if I needed any help. I ended up working long hours to meet the deadline, but I was able to do so without compromising the quality of the product. I also learned a valuable lesson about the importance of communication and teamwork in the workplace. Which Type of Right vs. Right Dilemma is This? This right vs. right dilemma can be classified as a short-term vs. long-term dilemma. In the short term, I could have met the deadline by cutting some corners and releasing a buggy product. However, this would have hurt the company's reputation and customers in the long term. In the end, I decided to focus on the long term and release a high-quality product, even if it meant missing the deadline. Part 2: Dilemma with a Loved One vs. Stranger If the person in the police officer scenario was my favorite person, I would still arrest them for DUI. I know that this would be a difficult decision, but I believe that it is the right thing to do. DUI is a serious offense that can put the driver and others on the road at risk. I could not justify letting my favorite person go simply because they are close to me. If the person in the police officer scenario was a complete stranger, I would still arrest them for DUI. I do not believe that it is appropriate to give different treatment to people based on my personal relationship with them. Everyone should be held accountable for their actions, regardless of who they are. Conclusion Ethical dilemmas can be difficult to resolve, but it is important to remember that there is always a right thing to do. By carefully considering the moral considerations involved and weighing the short-term vs. long-term consequences, we can make the best decisions possible.

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