Ethical Dilemma Worksheet

CJA/324 Version 3

University of Phoenix Material

Ethical Dilemma Worksheet
Incident Review

1. What is the ethical issue or problem? Identify the issue succinctly.

The real issue is does the officer does not have enough proof to arrest the man for driving
under the influence or get him for domestic violence. Now that the wife has completely
changed her story and is denying that anything ever happened it makes it extremely difficult.
2. What are the most important facts? Which facts have the most bearing on the ethical decision
presented? Include any important potential economic, social, or political pressures, and
exclude inconsequential facts.
The wife called police with a domestic violence report. Once the officers arrived on scene
they observed the male stumbling to the house. Once the officers saw this they immediately
expected the man was under the influence. He also dropped an item on the ground, which
sounded and looked like car keys. The hood of the suspect's car was still warm when the
officer touched it. The husband and wife stated that the car had not been used in the last 4
hours. The officers gave the husband a breathalyzer test, which showed blood alcohol level
was a .20, twice the legal limit.

3. Identify each claimant (key actor) who has an interest in the outcome of this ethical issue.
From the perspective of the moral agentthe individual contemplating an ethical course of
actionwhat obligation is owed to the claimant? Why?
Claimant
Obligation (owed
Perspective (What does the claimant hope will happen?)
(key actor)
to the claimant)
The police
Justice
The police officers have many obligations. First, they must
officers
uphold the law, gather all of the facts on the current situation,
and most important is they must protect the innocent. They
have been briefed and have knowledge of the wife's phone
call. The hood of the car is still warm when they touch it as if it
was recently being used. They arrived and witnessed the
husband stumbling to the front door, when the officers began
questioning the husband and wife they seemed somewhat
uneasy.
Wife
Appreciation
The wife contacted the police and asked for help, and now that
she has cooled down, she now feels she no longer needs the
officer's help. She also does not tell the truth to the officers in
hopes that her husband will not be arrested.
Husband
Appreciativeness The husband is clearly under the influence of alcohol, and
could be brought up on charges for domestic violence or
disorderly conduct (drunk in public). The husband hopes he
will no not be arrested since his wife changed her story, which
they both agreed on.
Society
Non-Injury
The husband is home, and no one got injured wherever the
husband was initially was. Now that the police officers know
that there is one less person behind the wheel and he is now
safe at home.
Evaluating Alternatives

Ethical Dilemma Worksheet

CJA/324 Version 3

4. What are two alternatives for the scenario? One alternative can be a wild card that you
ordinarily may not consider an option because of potential implications. Both should be within
free will and control of the same moral agent.
Alternative A
The police officers have the privilege to
end the call with a stern verbal warning
that if they get another call to this location,
then they will make an arrest.

Alternative B
The police officer can separate the
husband and wife to question them
separately to get the real story.

5. Respond to the following questions based on your developed alternatives.

What are the best- and

worst-case scenarios if
you choose this
alternative?

Will anyone be harmed if

this alternative is chosen?
If so, how will they be
harmed? Consider
families and derivative
effects.

Would honoring an idea

or valuesuch as
personal, professional, or
religiousmake the
alternative invalid?
Are there any rules, laws,
or principles that support
the alternative? Are there
rules, laws, or principles
that make the alternative
invalid? State the rule or
principle and indicate if it
invalidates or supports
the alternative.

Alternative A
Best case: The police
department never has a run in
with the husband or wife again.
Worst case: The officers
receive another call from the
husband and wife, and could
have serious ramifications.
The wife could possibly be
harmed once the police officers
leave because the husband
could get frustrated with her for
calling the police to begin with.
Also, the husband could have
injured an innocent bystander if
he left and got into his car and
drove under the influence.
The police officers have to
make sure that all parties
involved in a situation are safe
before leaving the scene. If
they do not, they could be held
liable for any injuries to an
individual involved.
Without any additional facts the
police officers have zero proof
of any abuse, and cannot arrest
the husband. Also, because
there are not any witnesses that
the husband was driving the
car, there would be no further
grounds to press forward.

Alternative B
Best case: The wife confirms the
story with the officers, and the
husband is arrested.
Worst case: The wife denies all
acquisitions, and the police
officers leave.
If the wife had told the truth from
the beginning and the husband is
arrested, once he would have
been released from jail there
could be more abuse on the wife
because he was angry for going
to jail and she is the one that
made it all happen.
The police officers can try to get
the truth from the wife, but if she
continues to stick with the same
story that as her husband, then
there is nothing else the police
officers can do. If the wife tells
the truth, then the husband can be
arrested.
Persons cannot be arrested for
being dishonest. They can either
remain silent or give whatever
information they want. If they
would have gotten the information
from the wife that she gave to
dispatch, then they could have
arrested the husband. Otherwise,
not so much.

Ethical Dilemma Worksheet

CJA/324 Version 3
Applying Ethical Guidelines
6. Consider each ethical guideline and explain whether it would support or reject your
alternative.
Guidelines based on the action itself
Alternative A
Alternative B
Should this alternative become a rule or policy
No, because the
No,
that everyone in this situation should follow in
situations are not
similar situations in the future? (Kant)
the same
Does this alternative result in using any person as No
No
a means to an end without consideration for his or
her basic integrity? (Kant)
No
Is the intent of this action free from vested interest Yes
or ulterior motive? (Kants good will)
Does this alternative demonstrate a genuine
concern for others affected by the decision, and is
the moral agency responding to a perceived
need?
Guidelines based on consequences

No

Yes, they can show

compassion

Alternative A
Yes, the officers
were doing the right
thing.

Alternative B
No, because she
gave up on asking
for help when her
husband was there
and all the officers
are able to do now is
provide them
information for help
for any problems that
may occur in the
future
This would be the
same answer as
option A

Is the good that results from this alternative

outweighed by the potential harm that might be
done to others? (Mills harm principle)

Is any harm brought about by anyone other than

the moral agent? (causal harm)

Will anyone be harmed who can be said to be

defenseless? (paternalism)

To what degree is this alternative based on the

moral agents own best interest? (ethical egoism)

Which alternative will generate the greatest

benefitor the least amount of harmfor the
greatest number of people? Select only one
alternative. (utilitarianism)

The wife is bringing

herself more harm
for more verbal or
physical abuse in
the future.
Yes, because a fight
could break out
between the
husband and wife.
Once the officer
arrive the likelihood
of something violent
happening is much
higher.
The officers are
there to help in the
situation, but they do
not want the help.

This would be my
selection.

The wife could be

subjected to future
abuse, or the
husband could harm
someone while
driving under the
influence
If the officers had
enough proof they
could have arrested
the husband and
deterred any future
crimes toward the
wife

Ethical Dilemma Worksheet

CJA/324 Version 3
Ethical Decision Making

7. Choose to proceed with either Alternative A or Alternative B and explain the reasons for your
decision.
I would choose option B for any situation. As taught in training the first thing that would be done
once arrived on scene would separate the husband and wife so that you as the officer can ask
them individually what are the problem and to explain to them the rights that they are entitled to
for their protection. This may get the wife to open up a little more, because sometimes her
answers can sway due to fear. Once this happens you turn her husband in for whatever abuse he
has done to her. If I could develop the trust between the officer and the spouse then she may
explain that there could be a pattern of abuse from her answers to the questions, and perhaps if
she sees the bigger picture she would then understand that the help is a good thing. If the wife
sticks to the story she gave the police officers and the dispatcher, the police officers can move
forward and make the arrest. Without the wifes story or any visible signs of abuse, the officers
have nothing to go on and cannot make arrests, and hopes not to get a call back out to this
residence.