CRIMINAL JUSTICE ETHICS

CRJU 475-T-1, #19826, M 7-9:45 pm, MH 457

This course introduces students to ethical precepts and discusses their relevance to criminal justice, with an emphasis on law enforcement, prosecution, defense and the "war on terror." Legal, administrative and procedural aspects of the criminal justice workplace are examined with a view towards helping anticipate and resolve moral dilemmas.

Text and readings

Required text: Pollock, Joycelyn. Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions in Criminal Justice.  5

th. ed.  Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2007.

Required, on reserve:  "The Dirty Harry Problem" and "From Morals to Practice: Dilemmas of Control in Undercover Policing".

Exams

Three non-cumulative exams that test comprehension of readings, videos, lectures and slide shows,  student presentations and class discussion, plus a final exam that combines a paper and an oral presentation, bringing together all the material discussed during the term .  Every exam must be taken to earn a grade higher than "F" on this course.

Makeups may be given for a fully documented emergency and must be completed by the next regularly scheduled class session. If you cannot take an exam on a scheduled date, e-mail (telephone if you cannot e-mail) and leave a message explaining why you cannot take the exam. A makeup exam will be left, in your name, in the "makeup exam" basket in the Political Science division office, UH-511, tel. (714) 278-3521.  NOTE: Makeups must be taken in the Political Science division office during normal office hours. 

Final exam

The final exam is in two parts -- a paper and an oral presentation.  The oral presentation is done as part of a team.  Making an oral presentation and turning in a paper are required to earn a grade higher than "F" on this course.

Topics

Students will be split into teams. Each team will take on a complex justice-related event that has been extensively reported in a "newspaper of record" such as the Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicago Tribune, New York Times and/or Washington Post.  If you wish to use another newspaper in addition to or instead of the above, it must be approved by the instructor in advance.  Blogs and other internet-only sources are not reliable and will not be approved.

This topic must be thoroughly researched by the team from one or more approved newspapers of record (any of the above are acceptable) using online indices available through the CSUF library portal.  Every team member must become familiar with all aspects of the topic.

Once the members are familiar with the topic, they will identify questionable laws and rules, or questionable decisions by law enforcement, prosecutors, judges and other public officers that create ethical dilemmas. An ethical dilemma is a decision point where internal or external forces conflict with social values or professional standards. Each student will take on one of these dilemmas as their personal topic.

We are only interested in finding and fixing problems, not in excusing conduct.  If you can't find a solid dilemma for each team member consult with the instructor -- he knows these topics well and will help you get on track.

This exercise is intended as a scholarly analysis of real-world issues, applying what you have learned in class. It is not meant to be a platform for "common knowledge" (what everyone knows) or for personal views.

PAPER

Each student will prepare a paper, 4-5 pages in length, covering their selected ethical dilemma in detail. The paper is part of the final exam and will be turned in on the same date as it is orally presented. Copies of all news articles used for the paper must be attached.  Submitting a written paper is required to earn a grade higher than "F" for the course.

Please address each of these items in the order given.

1. Dilemma identified by the student.

2. Single (one) best applicable ethical system for analyzing and resolving this particular dilemma.

3. Using this ethical system, resolve the dilemma.

Note:  Your job is to apply ethics as a preventive tool, to come in as an outsider and suggest how to use ethics in resolving a particular dilemma.  In this assignment we are NOT interested in using ethics to excuse what people do.

Paper formatting

1. Number each part and each subheading (A, B, C...) and answer them in the order given.  Do not write down the question -- numbers are sufficient.

Attach copies of all news articles used for the paper. No bibliography or footnoting required.

If you do not follow this precise format you will automatically forfeit five points. (Why am I so picky about format? Give an essay assignment some time and find out!)

2. Warning about plagiarism:  When drawing from the articles and the text, use your own simple words and your own simple sentences to summarize, interpret and explain. Every sentence must be your own. Do NOT use or rearrange existing sentences in the news articles or text.  Do not take a shortcut by simply rearranging existing sentences and inserting your own words. This is called "plagiarism."

3. Do not quote from the articles or the text. There should be no quotation marks (" ") and no need for quotation marks anywhere on your paper.

4. Do not use the Internet or any resources other than the article and the text. Do everything on your own. This is not group work.

5. Spelling and grammar are crucial!

6. Front page is used as the cover sheet (does not count as a page of the paper). Typewritten or printed using black ink.  One inch margins all around, single-sided, double-spaced, 12 point type (Courier New or Times New Roman only). Do NOT use any fancy fonts or graphics.

7. Attach a copy of every news article you used to the back of the paper.

Paper grading

Papers will be graded on their responsiveness to the assignment, accuracy, content, grammar and spelling and following instructions.

ORAL PRESENTATION

Teams need to split up these chores. No extra credit is given (sorry!):

  • Coordinate the team, make sure each member has a dilemma, plan the oral presentation
  • "PowerPoint™ guru, to make and assemble the slide show, copy it to a USB flash drive, make sure it works!
  • Summarize the topic at the beginning of the presentation

Presentation sequence

1. One student summarizes the topic (not the dilemmas), providing the context for what comes next.  Assume that the audience never heard of the topic, but leave the dilemmas for the individual presenters. (5 minute max.)

2. Each student, including the one giving the summary, separately presents their individual ethical dilemma(5 minute max. per student.)  Concentrate on #1A, #1D, #2A, #3A and #3B, saving detailed explanations and justifications for the paper.

Slides

Each member must use at least one PowerPoint™ slide for illustrative purposes. These slides should contain brief bullet points that help the audience track the presentation.  They should not have a lot of text. If desired, helpful graphics can be included.  Do not include unnecessary graphics or animations.

Important: Team members must not (repeat, not) read from the slide(s).  Slides are only meant to be used as cues and to supplement the presentation; they are not a script.  Reading from the slides will forfeit points.  Please rehearse your presentation (family dogs make great listeners!)

Grading

The instructor realizes that some enjoy orally presenting more than others.  As long as students make a good effort and follow instructions they will receive the full ten points. Points will not be deducted for being nervous! Points will be deducted for serious content problems and for reading from slides or cue cards.

Time will be allotted for teams to meet and to meet with the instructor to go over their presentation.

Grading

100 points can be earned: 20 each for exams 1-3, 30 for the final (20 for the paper, 10 for the  presentation) and 10 for attendance, to be taken at random on five occasions throughout the semester. Final grade will be "curved" to reflect class performance. Unexcused failure to take an exam or make a classroom presentation forfeits those points.  A five point penalty will be assessed for not presenting on time, and another five point penalty for not turning in the paper on time. No extra credit assignments will be given.

Term grades will be A, B, C, D or F. I do NOT use the + or - grading system.  Academic dishonesty will result in a term grade of "F" and referral to the Dean.

Accommodations

Students with special needs can receive information at the Disabled Student Service Office, UH 101, (714) 278-3117 and at

www.fullerton.edu/disabledservices.

Special notice about online materials

PowerPoint slides are used in class. Many have graphics and video clips.  Standalone DVD's, videos and handouts are also employed.  There may be online links and supplemental materials. Everything is "fair game" for exams. (If the material is voluminous students will be guided to what's most important.)

Some students rarely come to class, choosing to rely strictly on the book and the online version of the slide shows, which lack graphics and video clips. That is chancy, but it's their decision.

There is no guarantee that the website will be functioning when students wish. Technology is a fickle thing.  Once the website went down for most of the day before an exam.  Students who use online slide shows or supplemental materials to prepare for exams should print them in their entirety well in advance. "Final" versions may not be posted until the day of class.

Exams are prepared with those who attend class in mind.  Neither an exam date nor the grading will be adjusted because the website went down.

Weekly schedule

1 - 8/20 - Introduction; core concepts - Chp. 1

     "Paradise Lost" - West Memphis 3

2 - 8/27 - CLASS MEETS AT LIBRARY SOUTH INFO DESK. Mandatory meet to discuss & research term project topics.  "Adds" will be given the places of students not present.

3 - 9/3 - HOLIDAY

4 - 9/10 - Moral philosophy - Chp. 2

5 - 9/17 - Cont'd

6 - 9/24 - FIRST EXAM (weeks 1-5)

    Second half of class:  Ethics and the CJ professional -  Chp. 6

    "The Murder of Stephanie Crowe"

7 - 10/1 - Ethics and the CJ Professional, cont'd

    San Bernardino Sheriff's incident video

8 - 10/8 - Police ethics - authority, subculture, discretion -  Chp. 7 - TEAMS MEET WITH INSTRUCTOR (students - be prepared to discuss the dilemmas you will address in detail)

    Clips from "COPS"

9 - 10/15 - Corruption, use of force - Chp. 8

10 - 10/22 - Noble cause corruption, informants, undercover - Chp. 9, both reserve readings

    Excerpts from "Dirty Harry"

11 - 10/29 - SECOND EXAM (weeks 6-10) - TEAMS MEET WITH INSTRUCTOR (bring draft slide shows on a thumb drive)

12 - 11/5 - Legal ethics - prosecutors and defense - Chp. 10

13 - 11/12 - HOLIDAY

14 - 11/19 - WINTER BREAK

15 - 11/26 - Legal ethics cont'd.

16 - 12/3 - THIRD EXAM (Weeks 12-15) - TEAMS BRING FINAL SLIDE SHOWS, PREPARE FOR FINAL ORAL PRESENTATIONS

17 - 12/10 - FINAL EXAM (weeks 10-16) - 7:30 to 9:20 pm.-- PRESENTATIONS, ALL TEAMS - PAPERS DUE.
 

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