Ethics, Integrity, and Professional Conduct
Ethics, Integrity, and Professional Conduct tests whether you will use authority lawfully, report misconduct, avoid conflicts, and keep the public trust. The exam often presents a small temptation or a loyalty conflict.
Core rules
- Follow written policy and the law, not the informal norm of the shift.
- Refuse gifts, favors, loans, and special treatment from inmates, families, or vendors.
- Do not fraternize or share personal information that can be used against you.
- Report misconduct through the proper channel, including a supervisor's misconduct if required.
- Tell the truth in reports, even when it exposes your own error.
- Avoid the appearance of impropriety, not just actual impropriety.
Worked example
An inmate offers you a sealed candy bar and says, 'You look tired, boss.' You have had no prior contact with him. Reasoning: Decline. The rule is not about the value of the item; it is about creating obligation and testing boundaries. Do not accept 'just this once,' do not trade it for information, and document the offer if policy requires or if it becomes a pattern. The correct exam answer is usually the one that declines and reports, not the one that 'keeps the peace.'
Traps
Rationalizing a small gift; covering for a popular coworker; signing a report you did not personally observe; using position for favors; staying silent because 'it was not my business'; confusing loyalty with integrity.