THE ROLE OF ETHICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION: PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE MORAL CHALLENGES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

Abstract

Ethics is essential to developing competent, accountable, and professional criminal justice practitioners. This qualitative phenomenological study explored how ethics is understood, integrated, and experienced in the Bachelor of Science in Criminology program of Visayas State University–Tolosa. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 27 participants (15 students, 10 faculty members, and 2 administrative staff) and supported by document analysis of the CRIM 104 syllabus and program description. Thematic analysis identified four key concerns: conceptual ambiguity between ethics, morality, and values; the influence of personal and cultural beliefs over professional ethical standards; fragmented ethics instruction with limited reinforcement beyond a single course; and greater emphasis on theoretical knowledge than ethical application. Although ethics is embedded in the curriculum through the Professional Regulation Commission Oath, Republic Act No. 6713, and the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, participants recognized the need for more practice-oriented learning. These findings informed the development of Ethics in Action: A Research-Based Guide for Criminology Practice to strengthen ethics education and professional preparation in criminal justice programs.