Ethical behavior

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Ethical Behavior
For a long time, the criminal justice system, especially the police department, has been in need of assistance in the identification of crimes. The police have always wanted a program that would help them in predicting crime. Recently, scientists have come up with a program that would help law enforcement officers to determine whether or not a crime was committed by a gang (Hutson n. pag.). Scientists have always helped police officers by providing them with a program to map out criminal networks. Therefore, this new program is different since it identifies gang crimes. This program would go a long way to helping law enforcement officers in reducing crimes and keeping its citizens safe. The program would need specific information to determine whether the crime was committed by a gang. This information includes the number of suspects involved in the crime, the primary weapon used, the exact location where the crime took place such as a street alley, and the neighborhood where the crime was committed (Hutson n. pag.).
However, this program may have adverse side effects on society. It is possible that the program could be biased. An individual could be wrongly labeled as a gang member. This presents the police department with an ethical situation. Should they implement the program even though it may victimize innocent citizens? According to the natural law ethical system, there are natural laws that govern what is morally right or wrong (Pollock 35).

Mislabeling an innocent citizen as a gang member is definitely not a good act and, therefore, an unnatural act. Based on the natural law ethical system, it would be unethical for the police to implement the program. However, according to the utilitarianism ethical system, the implementation of the program would be entirely ethical. The utilitarianism ethical system argues that an act is ethical if it is for the good of the general society (Pollock 28). Implementing the program would definitely improve the safety of various communities in the United States who have been terrorized by gang members. Implementing the program would be for the good of the community hence ethical.
Works Cited
Hutson, Matthew. “Artificial Intelligence Could Identify Gang Crimes—And Ignite An Ethical Firestorm.” Science | AAAS, 2018, http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/02/artificial-intelligence-could-identify-gang-crimes-and-ignite-ethical-firestorm. Accessed 31 July 2018
Pollock, Joycelyn. Ethical Dilemmas & Decisions In Criminal Justice. 7th ed., Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010.