Which term explains the situation where an officer feels they have no choice but to act unethically?

The term that best describes the situation where an officer feels they have no choice but to act unethically is "victim of circumstance." This term refers to scenarios where individuals find themselves in challenging situations that lead them to make decisions they might not otherwise consider acceptable or ethical. The sense of being cornered or pressured by external factors—such as organizational culture, immediate threats, or systemic issues—can contribute to this feeling of helplessness.

In contexts related to law enforcement, this might occur when an officer perceives that they are compelled to act against their ethical beliefs due to prevailing circumstances or demands from those in positions of authority. Such a situation highlights the complex nature of moral decision-making within law enforcement, reflecting how environmental factors can push individuals towards choices that compromise their ethics.

While various other terms may describe different aspects of unethical behavior within law enforcement, they do not capture the specific nuance of feeling trapped or coerced by external situations that "victim of circumstance" conveys.