Unit 9Unit 9

Our Final SeminarOur Final Seminar

Any questions?Any questions?

Chapter 14Chapter 14

Drug Decriminalization and Harm Drug Decriminalization and Harm ReductionReduction

What is decriminalization of What is decriminalization of drugs?drugs?

What are some advantages of What are some advantages of drug decriminalization?drug decriminalization?

Advantages are:Advantages are:

Reduction in resources to enforce the lawsReduction in resources to enforce the laws Lower costs of drug might reduce Lower costs of drug might reduce

secondary crimessecondary crimes Drug sellers out of businessDrug sellers out of business Reduction in time and energy in obtaining Reduction in time and energy in obtaining

illegal drugsillegal drugs Government controlled drugs would be Government controlled drugs would be

safer due to not being contaminated or “cut”safer due to not being contaminated or “cut”

What would be some What would be some disadvantages?disadvantages?

Disadvantages:Disadvantages:

Easier for younger people to obtain Easier for younger people to obtain (cigarettes and alcohol)(cigarettes and alcohol)

More “law abiding” citizens might try the More “law abiding” citizens might try the drugsdrugs

Legal drugs would be signal an acceptance Legal drugs would be signal an acceptance within society within society

Making them legal would reduce some Making them legal would reduce some from trying to be become drug-freefrom trying to be become drug-free

What are some theories or What are some theories or excused for drug use?excused for drug use?

Excuses for drug abuse:Excuses for drug abuse:

It is a disease with a physiological basisIt is a disease with a physiological basis Psychological condition or personality Psychological condition or personality

disorderdisorder Response to oppressive social conditionsResponse to oppressive social conditions Please-activity of hedonistic individualPlease-activity of hedonistic individual

For 1000 S & H Green StampsFor 1000 S & H Green Stamps

What is a hedonistic person?What is a hedonistic person?

Hedonistic Hedonistic

A person whose life is devoted to the A person whose life is devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and self-pursuit of pleasure and self-

gratificationgratification

What are the purpose of needle-What are the purpose of needle-exchange programs?exchange programs?

ETHICS PART TWOETHICS PART TWO

A liquor store owner on your post asks A liquor store owner on your post asks you to escort him to the bank two you to escort him to the bank two

blocks away after he closes so that he blocks away after he closes so that he can make a night deposit. Itcan make a night deposit. It’’s 11 PM s 11 PM

and itand it’’s a high-crime area.s a high-crime area.

An automobile repossession man An automobile repossession man stops you on the street and offers you stops you on the street and offers you $25 if you can locate a certain car for $25 if you can locate a certain car for him. He gives you his business card him. He gives you his business card

and tells you that all you have to do is and tells you that all you have to do is find the car and call in the location, the find the car and call in the location, the

same as his civilian same as his civilian ““spotters.spotters.”” No No other involvement on your part is other involvement on your part is

required.required.

The local TV/radio station advertises rewards for tips from citizens on breaking

news stories. You then call in information on a

gruesome double-homicide you’ve just responded to, using a relative’s name.

You obtain several motor vehicle registration listings from your agency’s criminal justice information system computer terminal at the request of your brother.

A local funeral director asks you to hold-up traffic at a

busy intersection so that he can get a funeral

procession moving away in good order.

The owner of a private ambulance company on your

post who has been very helpful to you in the past, asks you to complete an accident report on

a property damage accident involving one of his vehicles that occurred in another jurisdiction two days ago, which he needs

for insurance purposes. He tells you that “it was just a fender-

bender,” and that his driver can give you all the details you need

for the report.

Put yourself in the shoes of a police officer. You Put yourself in the shoes of a police officer. You respond to an alarm call and find a broken window respond to an alarm call and find a broken window at a closed corner grocery store. You make entry at a closed corner grocery store. You make entry with a partner and find no suspects and nothing with a partner and find no suspects and nothing apparently missing.apparently missing.

You have the dispatcher call the store owner to You have the dispatcher call the store owner to respond to make sure nothing is missing. While respond to make sure nothing is missing. While waiting for the owner’s arrival, you notice your waiting for the owner’s arrival, you notice your partner pick a candy bar off the shelf and start partner pick a candy bar off the shelf and start eating it. eating it.

What, if anything, would you do?What, if anything, would you do?

Ignore itIgnore it– No ethical basisNo ethical basis

Wait to see if he pays the ownerWait to see if he pays the owner– What if he doesn’t?What if he doesn’t?– Is it still okay?Is it still okay?

Make partner settle up with ownerMake partner settle up with owner– What if he doesn’t?What if he doesn’t?– Do you still “tell”Do you still “tell”

Give your co-worker time to tell the boss Give your co-worker time to tell the boss himself; if he does not, you tell the bosshimself; if he does not, you tell the boss