NCJ Number
169389
Journal
Crime & Delinquency Volume: 44 Issue: 1 Dated: special issue (January 1998) Pages: 9-18
Date Published
1998
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article discusses, and cites examples of, how correctional progress has been negatively affected by situational ethics.
Abstract
Corrections has always been the stepchild of the justice family, never having its role clearly defined, the resources to carry out its many functions or a constituency to support its efforts. In addition, correctional leadership in the 1970s and 1980s became the victim of situational ethics, the altering of one's basic values to fit a specific situation. Illustrations of how correctional progress has been negatively affected by situational ethics include: (1) corrections have become politicized: (2) standards have been diluted; (3) courts have reverted to a hands-off policy regarding corrections; and (4) legislative restrictions have been placed on sound correctional programming. To counteract the effects of situational ethics and provide corrections leadership: standards must be performance based; correctional administrators must be encouraged to develop closer ties to legislative leadership and to participate in state and national organizations committed to upgrading corrections; and correctional administrators must become goal setters, policy developers, innovators, risk takers and entrepreneurs. Notes, references