Prohibition Dilemma

Comments from Support Team: You are a patrol officer in the city of Anywhere in the State of Nowhere. Along with the normal code of laws the State of Nowhere prohibits the selling, giving, or sharing of any tobacco products with anyone younger than 19 years of age. Similarly, there is also a prohibition of selling, giving, or sharing any alcohol or alcoholic beverages with anyone younger than 21 years of age. Both offenses are class one misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine of $1000. On your day off, you and several members of your shift have been invited to your sergeant’s home to watch a football game and cookout. While standing around with the sergeant and a couple of your shift members, the sergeant’s daughter asks her father if he has any cigarettes. He says, “Sure honey,” and hands her a pack of cigarettes out of his shirt pocket. Later, while watching the game you notice the daughter and one of her friends sitting off to the side, and both of them were drinking beers from cans. You know from prior meetings and introductions that the daughter is 16 years old. Her friend looks to be the same age. Discuss this situation and what you think you should do if anything. Be sure to discuss all of your options and the utilitarian and deontological ethical philosophies of each option.

Justice, Crime, and Ethics, Michael C. Braswell; Belinda R. McCarthy; Bernard J. McCarthy, 8th Edition, 2014-01-01, Routledge, 9780323262279 Chapter 1 Recognizing Ethical Decisions Ethics and Critical Thinking Character is destiny Chapter 4 Utilitarianism Measuring Consequences Professional Ethics in Criminal Justice, Jay S. Albanese, 4th Edition 2016-01-01, Pearson Education, 9780133843286 Chapter 1 Ethics, Crime, and Justice Chapter 2 Utilitarian & Deontological Approaches to Crim Justice Ethics Chapter 3 Peacemaking, Justice, and Ethics