Introduction
Man is one of the peculiar creatures on the earth that has the ability of reasoning, communicating and thinking rationally. The fact that man is a rational being distinguishes him from the rest of animals found on the universe. Animals live in groups and they do not need to formulate and enact laws and rules that will guide them because they use their innate knowledge. However, humans lack this imperative aspect; an idea that compels them to formulate and enacts laws and social norms aimed at maintaining social order and status quo. Since time immemorial, the society has enacted societal values, norms, and moral codes that stipulate how members of the community should behave in different situations, interact, and associate with others. Anyone who travels against societal norms, values, and laws is sanctioned accordingly so that to discourage bad behavior and inculcate desirable behavoir among the members.
Sometimes, people experience ethical dilemma trying to balance societal values against criminal laws of the country. An ethical dilemma means a complex situation that occurs when balancing moral imperatives against laws of the land, whereby obeying one will violate the other (Siegel, 2010). In this case, the old has committed a crime by stealing food for his family and should be charged in a court of law. On the other hand, it contravenes the morality of the society to punish the man on the premises that he was stealing food so that to rescue his starving family from dying; an idea that creates an ethical dilemma. However, the question that needs to be addressed is the implications of the crime on the individual, family, community and the society.
At the individual level, the old man can be charged in the court of law for stealing and the jury can either sentence or fine him; an idea that will have psychological and emotional impacts on the victim. The family will experience psychological and emotional torture because they will have to contribute money to pay the fine or let one of their own stay in jail. Sentencing the old man to serve a jail term will worsen the situation because the family will not have food and other basic needs. Therefore, the jury should pronounce fair judgment so that to deter crime and maintain morality of the society. In a similar vein, jury’s decision on this matter will have implications on the community and the society. In case the jury fails to pronounce severe punishment, it will encourage stealing and escalate crime rate in the society thus affecting security and economic development (Pollock, 2012). Similarly, in case the jury fails to take into the man’s condition, the society will not have confidence towards criminal justice system. In conclusion, the jury should take into account the influence of ethical dilemmas before passing the judgment.
References
Pollock, Joycelyn M.. Ethical dilemmas and decisions in criminal justice. 7th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.
Siegel, Larry J. Introduction to criminal justice. 12th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2010. Print.
