The Issue of Contraband Phones

Introduction 

Contraband phones are a major problem in correctional facilities. The issue of contraband phones is both a legal and ethical issue. To a correctional facility employee, a contraband weapon or substance can cause more danger inside a prison or jail in the immediate term. However, a phone is more dangerous because inmates can use it to cause danger beyond the correctional facility walls. Inmates can use them in activities such as drug dealing or planning for crimes while still in prison. Also, they can use them to make threats to public officials involved in their cases and intimidate individuals who have volunteered as witnesses. In some cases, they use them to coordinate murder activities. These are just a few of the many ways in which contraband phones in prisons can cause harm. Correctional officers play a significant role in providing inmates with contraband phones. While others acknowledge that it is unethical to introduce contraband phones in prisons and avoid being involved in the practice, some of them fail to report their colleagues for appropriate action. The purpose of his paper is to discuss contraband phones as an ethical issue and how correctional officers experience it as an ethical dilemma. Also, the 7-step ethical decision-making model will be applied to the identified ethical issue. 

Identify Facts 

According to the American Correctional Association (ACA), correctional officers are expected to abide by the set code of ethics. They are expected to be honest, show respect for human beings, and demonstrate commitment to their professional services (ACA). According to the code of ethics, a correctional officer is obligated to report to the relevant authorities an officer who engages in illegal or unethical conduct if there is adequate evidence (ACA, n. d.). Therefore, correctional officers who are aware of colleagues who bring contraband phones to prisoners must report them to authorities since it is illegal to engage in such practices. 

The code of ethics also requires correctional professionals to ensure good or positive relationships with their colleagues and uphold mutual respect between themselves (ACA). By reporting a colleague who is involved in contraband goods, relationships between the officers might become sour, and the reported individual is likely to be fired. Losing employment can cause significant economic challenges, and families depending on such officers are likely to suffer financially. Besides, the officer might find it difficult to find employment somewhere else due to unethical conduct. As previously identified, illegal phones in correctional facilities are a threat to inmates and staff and society at large because they can be used to organize crime or threaten individuals. 

Determine the Ethical Issues 

From a utilitarian perspective, failure to report a colleague who engages in contraband phones in prison is unethical. It is morally wrong. Utilitarianism is a moral theory that encourages actions that promote happiness and rejects or condemns those that cause harm or unhappiness ( Lazari-Radek & Singer, 2017 ). It focuses on the betterment of society as a whole instead of an individual. ( Copp,  2007). If an action causes happiness or good to the majority, it is moral. However, it t harms the majority and is only beneficial to a few, and then it is unethical or immoral. Based on this approach, correctional officers who fail to report colleagues introducing contraband phones in prisons are not moral because their actions encourage this illegal activity. They put the staff, other inmates, and the public at risk because inmates can use the phones to organize or coordinate crimes or escape. They promote the happiness of the few officers and their families, who are few in this case, and harm the majority. Therefore, they must report their colleagues to protect the safety interests of the majority. 

A deontological perspective requires correctional officers to report their colleagues involved in contraband goods. Deontology states that an individual must adhere to his/her duties and obligations during decision-making when ethics are involved ( Hooker, 2012 ). An individual should uphold his/her duty whether it is ethical or not. Corrections officers should report other staff members involved in contraband phones whether it is ethical to report or not. Doing one’s duty is ethical. The principle of beneficence requires an individual to do what is good ( Birsch, 2013 ). According to this perspective, the priority should always be to do well. Actions should produce the least possible harm and the highest amount of good. Therefore, ethical action is the one that generates the highest amount of good while harm is less. In this case, correctional officers should report colleagues who provide illegal phones to prisoners because the action would cause well to protect the safety of the society. 

Determine What Virtues/Principles Have a Bearing on the Issue 

The virtues following are involved in the ethical issue: 

Honesty 

Caring about others 

Compassion 

Integrity 

List the Alternatives 

Report unethical conduct by the officers involved in contraband goods 

Conceal their actions but advise them to stop the practice 

Keep quiet about the unethical practice 

Compare Alternatives with Virtue /Principles 

The action supported by all the virtues and principles discussed is reporting unethical behavior. This would produce good for the majority and prevent harm. 

Consider the Consequences 

The consequences of reporting are disciplinary action on the officers involved and possible firing. However, the action would promote public safety and deter possible criminal activities organized from inside the prison. Failing to report might lead to organized crime from inside prisons or jails hence threaten the safety of staff and the general public. 

Make a Decision 

The most suitable and moral action to take is to report the correctional officers involved in introducing contraband phones in prisons and jails. 

Conclusion 

The purpose of this paper was to discuss an the issue of contraband phones from an ethical perspectives and apply the 7 step decision making model to determine a moral action. Based on deontological and utilitarian perspectives, the right action to take is to report the behavior. Officers must uphold their duties and produce the highest possible good to the majority. 

References 

ACA. (n.d.). Code of ethics. Retrieved from https://www.aca.org/ACA_Prod_IMIS/ACA_Member/About_Us/Code_of_Ethics/ACA_Member/AboutUs/Code_of_Ethics.aspx?hkey=61577ed2-c0c3-4529-bc01-36a248f79eba 

Birsch, D. (2013).  Introduction to ethical theories: A procedural approach . Waveland Press. 

Copp, D. (2007).  The Oxford handbook of ethical theory . OUP USA. 

Hooker, B. (2012).  Developing deontology: New essays in ethical theory . John Wiley & Sons. 

Lazari-Radek, K. D., & Singer, P. (2017).  Utilitarianism: A very short introduction . Oxford University Press.