Key Points
I. Professionalism
A. Definition – Exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace
B. Ways to Exhibit Professionalism
1. Treat everyone (from all levels) with respect
2. Speak without judging, blaming, or demeaning
3. Listen with an open mind
4. Avoid gossip, name-calling, and offensive humor
5. Take responsibility for your behavior
II. Offensive and Disruptive Workplace Behaviors
A. Intimidation, threats, and bullying
B. Sarcasm
C. Excessive criticism, complaining, nitpicking, and negativity
D. Sabotaging other employees or departments
E. Faultfinding and blaming behaviors
F. Open hostility towards management or other groups
G. Frequent use of obscenities, cursing, and swearing
H. Gossiping or spreading rumors
I. Language, behaviors, or humor which demeans individuals or groups
J. Teasing or making others the punch line of a joke
III. Ethics
A. Definition – A set of rules and standards that govern individual conduct. It also establishes right and wrong, and good and bad
B. Ethical Goals
1. Integrity – Moral soundness, honesty, and freedom from corrupting influences or motives
2. The values or beliefs of a person or social group in which they have an emotional investment; (either for or against something)
3. Morals are concerned with the judgment of right or wrong, human action, and character
4. Trustworthiness
a) Honesty – prohibits stealing, cheating, fraud, or trickery to get anything of value
b) Loyalty – moral responsibility to promote or protect the interests of an organization
c) Integrity – treating beliefs about right and wrong as the ground rules for behavior
5. Responsibility
a) Accountability – accept responsibility for decisions; don’t blame others or take credit for work you didn’t do
b) Self-Restraint – willingness to take advance long-term interests into account
c) Pursuit of Excellence – diligence, perseverance, good work habits, and commitment to quality
6. Respect
a) Courtesy – treating others with consideration
b) Tolerance and Acceptance – acknowledging another’s beliefs and differences
7. Caring
a) Consideration of others
b) Treat others the way you want to be treated
8. Citizenship
a) Contribution to the overall good
b) Charity support or volunteer work
c) Voting and jury duty
d) Reporting crimes
9. Fairness
a) Following procedures
b) Impartial treatment
c) Objective discipline
d) Equal treatment of each person
IV. Ethical Misconceptions
A. It is a personal opinion or belief
B. Legal equals ethical
C. It’s okay if it’s not specifically forbidden
D. Dilemma – Any difficult or perplexing situation or problem
E. Ethical dilemma – Any difficult or perplexing situation or problem of an ethical nature
V. Personal Ethics
A. Specific moral choices (I will or I will not it)
B. Formed from cultures, families, communities, religious entities, and morals
C. Lying, cheating, stealing, tardiness, vulgarity, and being inconsiderate, etc.
VI. Professional Ethics
A. Rules or standards governing a profession
B. “Work ethic”
C. No abuse of sick leave
D. Arriving early (allowing time for unforeseen circumstances)
VII. Workplace Behaviors are Governed by
A. Conduct
1. Personal behavior
2. The way someone acts
B. Laws
1. Authority-established principles and regulations
2. Established by the community authority
3. Applicable to its people
4. Legislation or custom
5. Recognized and enforced by judicial decision
C. Regulations
1. Law, rule, or other order prescribed by an authority
2. Prescribed to regulate conduct
D. Policies
1. A definite course of action adopted by an entity
2. Promotes expediency
3. A guiding principle for those associated with an entity
VIII. Dilemma Solving Techniques (Five Steps of Principled Reasoning)
A. Clarify – determine precisely what must be decided
B. Evaluate – distinguish solid facts from beliefs, desires, theories, suppositions, unsupported conclusions, and opinions that might generate rationalizations.
C. Decide – after evaluating the available information, make a judgment about what is or is not true and what consequences are most likely to occur
D. Implement – once a decision is made about what to do, develop a plan of how to implement the decision in a way that maximizes the benefits and minimizes the costs and risks
E. Monitor and Modify – monitor the effects of decisions and be prepared and willing to revise a plan, or take a different course of action, based on new information
IX. Professionalism in Law Enforcement Careers – Code of Ethics
A. As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve the community; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the constitutional rights of all to liberty, equality and justice. I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all and will behave in a manner that does not bring discredit to me or to my agency. I will maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed both in my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the law and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty. I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, political beliefs, aspirations, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities. I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of police service. I will never engage in acts of corruption or bribery, nor will I condone such acts by other police officers. I will cooperate with all legally authorized agencies and their representatives in the pursuit of justice. I know that I alone am responsible for my own standard of professional performance and will take every reasonable opportunity to enhance and improve my level of knowledge and competence. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession...law enforcement.
X. Professionalism in Legal Careers
A. Observe a fiduciary duty
B. Protect confidential information
C. Act competently
D. Avoid conflicts of interest
E. Use trust accounts for client money
F. Avoid sharing attorney fees with non-lawyers
G. Use due diligence
H. Refrain from direct communication with an opposing party who has a lawyer
I. Avoid the unauthorized practice of law
J. The Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct –
K. The Texas Code of Judicial Conduct –
L. The Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility of the Legal
Assistants Division of the State Bar of Texas –
XI. Professionalism in Correctional Careers
A. The following are links to Texas Department of Criminal Justice regulations, policies, and procedures regarding the ethics and conduct of its employees:
1.
2.
3.