4.1: Defining Corruption

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Beginning this section with a question seems appropriate, especially since ethics and ethical decisions use differing approaches, therefore can corruption be viewed with the same vitriolic scorn in every situation? Is a free cup of coffee to a police officer being on the take? Is a favor to someone because of your position a form of corruption? Is contempt for corruption situational or exact?

According to Webster the term corruption is: dishonest or illegal behavior especially by powerful people (such as government officials or police officers): depravity; or inducement to wrong by improper or unlawful means (such as bribery) the corruption of government officials; or a departure from the original or from what is pure or correct the corruption of a text the corruption of computer files; and finally, decay, decomposition the corruption of a carcass.

Examining the definition from the viewpoint of the CJ System a derivative of the definition may fit in some form in all aspects. This includes the system as a whole, individuals as a part of the system, leadership within the system, and government entities that may overlook the activity. However, at this juncture I caution readers to remain objective, remembering America’s physical fitness program, jumping to conclusions and leaping to suppositions. What makes the decision ethical or not?