CRJU 350

CRJU 350: Ethical and Moral Issues in Criminal Justice

Prerequisites: CRJU 100  

Credit Hours: (3)

Introduces students to theoretical and applied criminal justice professional ethical norms and standards as they relate to criminal justice decision making processes in discretion, due process, truthfulness, corruption, and discrimination.

 

Detailed Description of Course

The topics covered by this course will include:

 

1. Students will study current criminal justice ethical norms and standards as they apply to various ethical and moral issues confronting criminal justice in the late 20 th and early 21 st centuries.
2. Students will have the opportunity to apply professional ethical norms and standards to current criminal justice problems and policies.
3. Multi-system perspective: The material is presented from legal, criminological, historical, and social systems perspectives so students can develop an understanding of the different social, economic, political, and practical issues involved in developing acceptable public policies and appropriate codes of conduct relating to the ethical and moral interaction of criminal justice system agencies, criminal justice personnel, and the interaction of criminal justice professionals with the public they serve.
4. Self reflection: Students will analyze how their personal ethical and moral foundations could influence their own behavior and decision making as criminal justice professionals challenged by ethical and moral dilemmas.

 

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

A number of instructional strategies will be employed in this course to enhance student engagement. The following basic strategies will be used in the course, but the instructor is not limited to using only these strategies.

• Lecture
• Case studies-audio/visual and printed
• Student presentations
• Role playing
• Group learning projects
• Oral communication activities
• Written assignments
• Guest speakers

 

Student Goals and Objectives of the Course

Having completed this course, students will:

• Be familiar with the history of justice in the Western tradition
• Have insight into the professional criminal justice norms and standards that result from the various Western legal, moral, and ethical systems
• Be able to recognize ethical issues and dilemmas in the field of criminal justice
• Be able to engage in critical examination of criminal justice issues
• Be able to resolve real and hypothetical dilemmas in criminal justice and justify solutions based on professional norms and standards
• Be able to identify the influence of their personal moral and ethical foundations on their professional solution of ethical dilemmas
• Be able to apply analytic skills
• Be able to apply verbal and written communication skills

 

Assessment Measures

Assessment measures may include any combination of the following strategies:

• Examinations
• Quizzes
• Presentations
• In class discussion and participation
• Written assignments
• Group participation

 

Other Course Information

 

Approval and Subsequent Reviews

May, 2011