Kohlberg's Stages Of Moral Development

While doing research for this unit, it dawned on me that I have worked with individuals who could easily fit in all three stages of Kohlberg’s stages of moral development. I honestly believe that police or correctional officer should be on a conventional level of moral development. As stage four is labeled the law and order stage, it coincidentally fits the level that a majority of people make it too and do not exceed. For me, I have never worked in the field of corrections, but I can expect that the level of responsibility is extremely high. As a correctional officer, you are responsible for the safety and welfare of prisoners as well as the facility. An individual with these types of a task would need to be able to exercise sound moral reasoning

A correctional officer must be an individual of integrity, high morals, and good values as traits to avoid the inmate manipulation, to gain an advantage in the facility (York, 2015). It may be difficult to implement the use of education or training to enhance an individual's moral development. However, the use educating will heighten the awareness of a person faced with an ethical dilemma. Encouraging the cognitive development better represents the universal pattern, which is a stage preferred for a position such as correctional officer. A police officer’s moral development is consistent with that of a correctional officer. Even Though the majority of people do not travel past stage four of conventional morality, a police officer took an oath to protect the common good. They must have a genuine concern for the interest and welfare of the people. This perspective is created through critical thinking and reflection. Law enforcement agencies need their officers to demonstrate an understanding of morality, with an emphasis on social good. There must for the officers to think more conceptual and abstract, rather than

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Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development. (n.d.). Retrieved March 5, 2017, from https://www.boundless.com/psychology/textbooks/boundless-psychology-textbook/human-development-14/theories-of-human-development-70/kohlberg-s-stages-of-moral-development-268-12803/.

Williams, C. R., & Arrigo, B. A. (2012). Ethics, crime, and criminal justice (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

York, G. (2015). Professional Ethics and Corrections, a Professional Responsibility. Retrieved March 5, 2017, from