CODE
OF ETHICS
AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION
4321 Hartwick Road, Suite L-208
College Park, Maryland 20740
(301) 864-1070
The
American Correctional Association expects of its members unfailing honesty,
respect for the dignity and individuality of human beings, and a commitment to
professional and compassionate service. To
this end we subscribe to the following principles.
Relationships with clients / colleagues / other professions / the public:
Members
will respect and protect the civil and legal rights of all clients.
Members
will serve each case with appropriate concern for the client's welfare and
with no purpose of personal gain.
Relationships
with colleagues will be of such character to promote mutual respect within
the profession and improvement of its quality of service.
Statements critical of colleagues or their agencies will be made only as
these are verifiable and constructive in purpose.
Members
will respect the importance of all elements of the criminal justice system
and cultivate a professional cooperation with each segment
Subject to the client’s rights of privacy, members will respect the
public’s right to know, and will share information with the public with
openness and candor.
Members
will respect and protect the right of the public to be safeguarded from
criminal activity.
No member will use his or her official position to secure special privileges or advantages.
No
member, while acting in an official capacity, will allow personal interest
to impair objectivity in the performance of duty.
No
member will use his or her official position to promote any partisan
political purpose.
No
member will accept any gift or favor of such nature to imply an obligation
that is inconsistent with the free and objective exercise of professional
responsibilities.
In
any public statement, members will clearly distinguish between those that
are personal views and those that are statements and positions on behalf of
an agency.
Members
will be diligent in their responsibility to record and make available for
review any and all case information which could contribute to sound
decisions affecting a client or the public safety.
Each
member will report, without reservation, any corrupt or unethical behavior
which could affect either a client or the integrity of the organization.
Members will not discriminate against any client, employee or prospective employee on the basis of race, sex, creed, or national origin.
Members
will maintain the integrity of private information; they will neither seek personal data beyond that needed to
perform their responsibilities, or reveal case information to anyone not
having proper professional use for such.
Any
member who is responsible for agency personnel actions will make all
appointments, promotions or dismissals only on the basis of merit and not in
furtherance of partisan political interests.
(Adopted August 1975 at the 105th Congress of Correction)