Question

explain how decontology and utilitrianiam could work to resolve ethical disputes for lawyers and police officers

Answer 1

E have responsibilities that are imperative and should never be relinquished, regardless of the expected outcome. According to Kant, these responsibilities are absolute, and must be applied equally to everyone. The concept of duty is essential to law enforcement officers who are legally bound to perform their duties. A duty is something that we are expected to perform, whether we want it or not. The duty may have a negative personal or professional consequence attached to it but it is absolute and/or imperative because it is a requirement or obligation.

A categorical imperative is an obligation or law that is without restriction. No matter what effect the decision may have on you, the obligation remains the same and must be done. In this way the act is indifferent to the end result; it is a responsibility regardless of the outcome. One example in law enforcement is a policy of domestic assault which imposes a duty on a police officer to charge a spouse with an assault if there is evidence. This is an obligation whatever the officer's purpose or desires may be. In this case the duty is a policy written by the Office of the Attorney General of British Columbia.

The officer should recognize that this is not a guarantee to be made, since it is ultimately up to Crown lawyers to decide who testifies and who does not. Kant would argue that the promise is to use witness as a means to an end, and thus not an ethical one. A law enforcement officer must decide whether to adopt a consequentialist perspective in which the consequences of his or her actions are more important,

Many times, compliance officers are required to perform their duties irrespective of what the personal costs may be. If faced with a task they may not wish to perform, the officers would remember that when they swore their oath they decided to perform duties. Someone has to fulfill these duties, and when that duty falls to them they have to do their duty.