Criminal justice is a scientific discipline in which those who teach, study, learn, manage or practice follow the general principles of science and scholarship. They also recognize that the discovery, creation, dissemination and accumulation of knowledge in any scientific discipline involves ethical considerations at all levels. The code of ethics of the academy of criminal justice (ACJS) provides for 1) general principles and 2) ethical standards that are the basis for the professional responsibilities and conduct of members of the academy, as well as policies and procedures for the implementation of these principles and standards. Membership in the academy of criminal justice requires each member to abide by the ACJS code of ethics in determining ethical behavior in their daily professional activities. Activities that are purely personal and unrelated to criminal justice as a scientific discipline are not bound by this code of ethics. The general principles contained in this code express the values and ideals of the academy of criminal justice regarding ethical conduct within the professional activities of its individual members. Members should take into account the general principles in formulating ethics courses of action in specific situations which could be taken into account by the acc ethics committee and the executive board in determining whether ethical violations had occurred and whether sanctions should be imposed. Ethical standards set enforceable rules for the conduct of individual members of the academy in specific circumstances. Most ethical standards are broadly written to provide applications in different roles and environments. Ethical standards are not exhaustive – actions that are not included in ethical standards are not necessarily ethical or unethical. Moral standards should always be explained in the context of general principles. Violations of the code of ethics may result in sanctions against individual members of the academy, including the restriction or termination of membership.