Week 4 Discussion: 2nd Ethics and Law Enforcement Case Study
Select one case study from the Ethics and Law Enforcement section of Case Studies in Criminal Justice Ethics and discuss the case, using one ethical system and one concept of justice. Work to select a different ethical system and concept of justice than you have used previously. Select a different case study than you used last week or in a previous discussion. Remember that you are not using your default ethical framework, but are applying a different framework to this case study. Make your argument compelling, even if you disagree with that ethical framework.
Discuss this case, using a different ethical system than you used in a previous discussion question.
Identify the facts, including all parties involved. Indicate the rights and responsibilities of each party.
Identify relevant values, concepts, social constraints, and any additional information necessary for an accurate understanding of the case.
Identify all possible ethical dilemmas for each party involved.
Decide what is the most immediate ethical issue facing the decision-making individual.
Describe one ethical system and apply it to this case.
Describe one concept of justice and apply it to this case.
Resolve the ethical or moral dilemma by using the ethical system and concept of justice you described.
Use evidence from the text, lecture, or outside sources to support your claims.
Getting Started
Outline your essay
Make your decision
Critically analyze the case, determine the potential courses of action, and — most importantly — take a clear and decisive position with respect to what you would do based on a particular ethical system if you were one of the lead characters in this case.
Weigh pros and cons. Show pros outweigh the cons, from the perspective of the ethical system you selected.
Mindset of the Paper
If the case study you select does not indicate who you are in relation to the case, take the role of one of the lead characters in the case – this will allow you to write with authority on the topic.
Assume the audience knows nothing about the case.
View your paper as a “position paper.” Although it includes “explanation,” your task is to understand the context, to evaluate the evidence, and then to make a decision concerning the appropriate course of action based on the ethical system you select, which you support through arguments and counter-arguments.
Take a clear and decisive position –what would you do if you were one of the lead characters in this case based on the ethical system you select?
Answer the prompt:
Select one ethical framework and one concept of justice. This should be the bulk of your paper. Almost all of your paper should be devoted to explaining the ethical framework underlying your decision, but you will use this particular case to explain that system.
You should spend considerable time explaining the ethical system, elaborating on the ethical system, and applying it to the particular case.
Likewise, you should spend considerable time and space to explaining, elaborating on, and applying a concept of justice to this case.
Remember that this is an ethics course. You should demonstrate that you understand the ethical systems and concepts of justice in depth.
Identify the facts, including all parties involved and their rights and responsibilities. After identifying the facts objectively, state how that ethical framework and concept of justice would frame those facts.
Identify the salient ethical issues of the case according to the ethical system and concept of justice you selected.
Identify the relevant values, conceptual issues, social constraints, and any additional information necessary for an accurate understanding of the case from the perspective of the ethical system and concept of justice you selected.
Formulate possible courses of action based on the ethical system and concept of justice you selected. Explain the possible courses of action appropriate for this ethical system and concept of justice.
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of those actions according to the ethical system and concept of justice you selected, indicating which course of action the ethical system and concept of justice indicates you would choose and why.
Provide your own evaluation; do not regurgitate others’ opinions. Use appropriate sources to support your position.
Evidence:
Find at least ONE peer-reviewed journal article (more is better) and incorporate the findings from those articles to support your position on this case.
The peer-reviewed journal article can relate: to cases or topics similar to this, to the ethical system you select, to the concept of justice you select, or to any other aspect that will help support your decision.
Use these facts/sources to convince me and your peers of your ethical point of view.
Your sources can be used in different points throughout the paper, as they support your argument about the ethics of this case.
Cite your sources in the text and list in bibliography.
Use Article Databases from the library:
http://www.library.webster.edu/databases/index.html
General and multidisciplinary databases:
Academic Search Complete
Quick Article Search
Specialized databases:
Philosopher’s Index: philosophy, ethics (under Religious Studies & Philosophy)
PsychInfo: psychology, delinquency (under Psychology, Counseling & Social Sciences)
SocINDEX: sociology, criminology, deviance (under Psychology, Counseling & Social Sciences)
LexisNexis: legal, business, medical related issues (under Law, Political Science & International Relations)
Cite your sources in APA style
APA style help:
http://libguides.webster.edu/apastyleLinks to an external site.
APA Formatting and Style: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
The Basics of APA Style (tutorial): http://www.apastyle.org/learn/tutorials/basics-tutorial.aspx
Technical elements: