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CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH ETHICS. ETHICS: “The study of right and wrong conduct” (Dooley, 2001) “… from the Greek word ethos, meaning ‘custom.’ … refers to the general beliefs, attitudes, and standards that guide customary behavior.” (DesJardins, 2000). CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH ETHICS.
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH ETHICS ETHICS: “The study of right and wrong conduct” (Dooley, 2001) “… from the Greek word ethos, meaning ‘custom.’ … refers to the general beliefs, attitudes, and standards that guide customary behavior.” (DesJardins, 2000)
CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH ETHICS ETHICAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH: A THREE-LEGGED STOOL • Identify intellectual and social contributions of a research study • Protect the rights of human subjects • Ensure ethical researcher conduct
IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING ETHICAL RESEARCH SKILLS 1. Focus & Impact of Criminal Justice Research • Implementation & Effectiveness of Laws, Policies, Programs, Law Enforcement Tactics • Multiple Populations Impacted: Offenders, Potential Offenders, CJ Practitioners, General Public
IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING ETHICAL RESEARCH SKILLS 2. Vulnerable Populations Involved in Criminal Justice Research • Incarcerated Offenders • Juveniles • Mentally Ill
IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING ETHICAL RESEARCH SKILLS 3. Sensitive Data & Confidentiality • Criminal History Information • Current Offending Patterns • Gang Involvement • Substance Abuse Habits • Recollection of Emotionally Disturbing Experiences
HISTORY • Nuremberg Code • Fruitful results • Voluntary Consent • No unnecessary physical or mental harm • Freedom to stop participation • Professional Association Guidelines • ASC, WSC, ASA, APA • Tuskegee Syphilis Study • Macon County, Alabama, 1929 • U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services guidelines for human subject research, 1981 • Institutional Review Boards (IRB)
Institutional Review Boards • Composed of researchers’ colleagues & members of community • Prisoner / Offender rep. for CJ research • Required in institutions that receive federal research funds • Universities, hospitals, RAND Corp., state agencies • All research involving human subjects must be approved PRIOR to start of study
Protecting Human Subjects & Proper Researcher Conduct • Protecting Human Subjects • Potential Problems: • Physical / Psychological Harm • Damage to Reputation • Lack of Confidentiality • Loss of Privacy, Retaliation • Expense & Inconvenience
Protecting Human Subjects & Proper Researcher Conduct • Protecting Human Subjects • Protections: • INFORMED CONSENT • Voluntary written consent to participate • Confidentiality / Anonymity of Records • Maintenance of Privacy • IRB Approval
Protecting Human Subjects & Proper Researcher Conduct • Protecting Human Subjects • Rights of Research Participants: • Informed Consent • Protection from psychological or physical harm • Freedom to stop participation at ANY time • Confidentiality • Debriefing • Expectation of meaningful research results
Protecting Human Subjects & Proper Researcher Conduct • Proper Researcher Conduct • Potential Problems: • Harm to subjects • Plagiarism • Fraud • Waste • Private v. Public Interest
Protecting Human Subjects & Proper Researcher Conduct • Proper Researcher Conduct • Enforcement & Sanctioning • Professional Associations • Deny publication, Issue public reprimand, Cancel membership • Government • Withhold funds (individual or institution) • Rarely… Impose fines, Bring criminal charges • Research Subjects • Complain to IRB / Association, Civil Complaint • Public Media • Expose Story