Ethics: What is Ethics?

• A. The principles of conduct governing an individual or a group created by the moral norms of society, the individual within the group, and the group itself. Ethics are created formally through the written word, and informally by customs and norms
• B. A set of laws enacted by the government
• C. Personal preferences alone
• D. Behaviors that are always legal

Answer: (A)

Ethics are the principles that guide what people ought to do in terms of right and wrong. They come from the moral norms of society, plus the expectations of the individual within a group and the group itself. Ethics can be written into formal codes of conduct or exist as informal norms and customs. This means ethics shape shared standards of behavior that can go beyond what the law requires, and they aren’t simply personal preferences. They aren’t just laws enacted by government, and they aren’t about behaviors that are always legal. In policing, ethics guide decisions when legal requirements aren’t explicit and help ensure actions reflect integrity, respect for rights, and professional responsibility.