Module 2

Question 1

What does it mean to be professional?

Answer 1

Act ethically Demonstrate highest standards of competence
Be motivated by professional objectives rather than personal concerns
Treat co-workers, clients and others with dignity, respect and compassion
Encourage others to act ethically Avoid prejudice, discrimination and stereotyping
Act as a mentor to others
Be punctual Demonstrate teamwork
Be prepared to report unethical behaviou

Question 2

What is meant by ethics?

Answer 2

People defining ethics often refer to morality and ethical behaviour as if they were interchangeable. But they are not.

Morality typically refers to a person’s ability to state right from wrong and to make (appropriate) value-based judgments.1 Value-based principles act as guides for our subsequent decision-making. However, morals do not need to be based on a rational argument. For example, a person could be against abortion on moral grounds but for the death penalty on different moral grounds. Ethics would need to sort out the inconsistency behind the logic of these two positions. “I am against abortion because killing is wrong. I am for the death penalty because killing is wrong”

Ethics typically refers to good or bad conduct.2

The philospher Immanuel Kant referred to a “categorical imperative” which essentially means “duty” to do something as if it were a universal law of nature that applies to all rational thinking people. For example, people have a right to be treated with dignity and people have a right to be free. Some rights, such as freedom, can be taken away by the State.

Question 3

What functions do ethics and professionalism play in organizations? There are about 11

Answer 3

1. While engaged in investigative work a corporation or an investigator: must act with honesty and integrity must respect and use all of equipment
2. must comply with all federal, provincial and municipal laws
3. must treat all persons equally, without discrimination
4. must not use profane, abusive or insulting language or actions
5. must not use unnecessary force
6. must not engage in behaviour that is prohibited by law
7. must respect the privacy of others
8. must cooperate with police if it is required by law
9. must not be unfit for duty
10. must not wilfully or negligently make a false statement or false complaint, and
11. must not misrepresent to any person

Another term that often gets mentioned when discussing morality and ethics is integrity.

Question 4

What are some possible consequences of an investigation conducted without integrity? List up to 10

Answer 4

1. bias or the appearance of bias by investigator or organization
2. violating individual rights
3. violating laws
4. incurring civil liabilities to self and organizations (note: if your actions are grossly negligent, you can be civilly sued personally and employers are under no obligation to cover your losses. It is important to note that investigators can also be held liable for outcomes they never actually “intended”. For example, an investigator can be held accountable for things done accidentally)
5. sabotaging associated investigations (by police or other investigative body)
6. tainting evidence
7. loss of trust
8. loss of future information
9. loss of respect from other investigators
10. jeopardizing personal safety or the safety of others