Legal Compliance & Ethical Standards Flashcards

A security officer reports a coworker for theft of client property but later admits the accusation was false. The accusing officer may be liable for:

Answer: Defamation (slander or libel)

Making knowingly false statements that damage another person's reputation constitutes defamation, which can result in civil liability.

Which principle guides a security supervisor when weighing an action that may be legal but still feels wrong from a professional standpoint?

Answer: The 'newspaper test'—would the action be defensible if reported publicly?

The 'newspaper test' is a practical ethics tool: if an action would be embarrassing or indefensible if publicly reported, it likely violates ethical standards.

Under HIPAA, security personnel working in healthcare settings must ensure that:

Answer: Protected Health Information (PHI) is not disclosed without authorization

HIPAA requires that PHI be protected from unauthorized disclosure, which extends to security personnel who may access patient information during their duties.

A security supervisor who knowingly allows a subordinate to work without a required state security license is potentially guilty of:

Answer: Negligent supervision and contributing to unlicensed practice

Allowing an unlicensed officer to work constitutes negligent supervision and may expose the supervisor and company to regulatory penalties and civil liability.

The concept of 'proportional response' in security operations means that force used must be:

Answer: Always equal to the level of threat presented and no greater

Proportional response requires that the level of force correspond directly to the threat; using greater force than necessary is legally and ethically unjustified.

Which act requires employers with federal contracts over $10,000 to take affirmative action and prohibits employment discrimination?

Answer: Executive Order 11246

Executive Order 11246 requires federal contractors to take affirmative action to ensure equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

A security supervisor who fails to document a known hazard that later injures a visitor may face liability under the legal theory of:

Answer: Premises liability and negligence

Premises liability holds property owners and their agents responsible for negligent failure to identify and address known hazards that injure invitees.