Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice
CJUS 3700.002
Spring 2013
Instructor InformationCourse information
Adam Trahan, Ph.D.Class Location: Wh316
Chilton Hall, Office 273K
Department of Criminal JusticeMeeting Schedule: TuTh:9:30-10:50
University of North Texas
E-mail:ffice Hours: TuTh: 2:00-3:30
Phone: (940) 369-8860
Course Description
Ethics can be defined as the study of good and bad, right and wrong. In this class, we will explore the ethics of criminal justice policy and the behavior of criminal justice workers. Ethical dilemmas facing policy-makers, administrators, and line personnel will be addressed.
Course Goals
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
1)Articulate a comprehensive understanding of how various ethical traditions impact the form and function of our criminal justice systems.
2)Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of how ethics is constructed and evaluated in criminal justice work.
3)Evaluate criminal justice legal policies based on how they impact people’s lives and serve the interests of our communities.
4)Shape and understand their individual perspectives of what is good and bad, right and wrong in our administration of justice.
5)Communicate their interests and ideas with others in a way that demonstrates an openness to change.
Reading Materials
Braswell, M.C., McCarthy, B.R., & McCarthy, B.J. (2012).Justice, crime, and ethics (7th
ed). Newark, NJ: Anderson.
Course Requirements and Grading
Your final grade will be determined based on your performance on four exams.
4 Exams @ 50 points each =200
4 Ethical Dilemma Responses @ 10 points each= 40
Total Possible Points240
Exams: All four exams will be comprised of 40 multiple choice questions and two short essays. See the end of this syllabus for a schedule of readings and exams.
Ethical Dilemma Responses: At the beginning of each unit I will pose to you several ethical dilemmas. These dilemmas will present “real world” situations where ethical issues are involved in criminal justice work. After reading the material, you must choose two ethical dilemmas to respond to. Each student will write a short paper in which you choose a course of action and justify your decisions using course material.
Each dilemma response must be two-to-three pages in length. Because you will be responding to two dilemmas each unit, papers will be four-to-six pages total. These papers are due at the beginning of class the day of each exam (see the schedule at the end of this syllabus). All papers must be typed, stapled, double-spaced, and in 12-point times new roman font with one inch margins. Papers should be well-written and scholarly. There are a total of four papers due; each is worth 10 total possible points. Ethical dilemma papers must be turned in in class. I will not accept papers submitted via email, turned into the CJUS office, slipped under my door, or any method other than handed to me in class.Late responses will not be accepted.
Also, be prepared to discuss your responses in class.
Final Semester Grades
Final semester grades will be awarded using the following scale:
Final Grade Total Points Earned
A216-240
B192-215
C168-192
D144-167
F0-143
Class Policies
Attendance and Participation
Coming to class on a regular basis is imperative to doing well in this course. Being absent from class will preclude you from adequately understanding key concepts and materials, which will inevitably result in lower grades. Attendance will be taken each day after class begins. It is your responsibility to sign the attendance sheet.
Your participation in class discussions is an important component of this course. The topics we will cover are often highly contentious and I expect you to have strong opinions. Students who are unwilling to participate and take the activities seriously should drop the course and allow students who are interested the chance to be involved. I also expect that your opinions will, at times, conflict heavily with those of your fellow students. You should not hesitate to express your disagreements with others, including me. You are, however, required to do so respectfully. Class discussions will be conducted in the spirit of academic inquiry, which is predicated upon a passionate desire to understand diverse experiences and perspectives.
The Student Evaluation of Teaching Effectiveness (SETE) is a requirement for all organized classes at UNT. This short survey will be made available to you at the end of the semester, providing you a chance to comment on how this class is taught. I am very interested in the feedback I get from students, as I work to continually improve my teaching. I consider the SETE to be an important part of your participation in this class.
Make-Up Exams
All make-up exams will be taken May7 immediately following the final exam, no exceptions. Make-up exams will be comprised of several essay questions. There are no make-ups for the final exam.
Academic Dishonesty/Integrity
All students are required to conduct themselves with utmost honesty and integrity in all aspects related to this course. Any act of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and may result in failing the course. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion – the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing work offered for course credit.
Grade Appeals
Please keep all your graded work. You cannot, under any circumstance, dispute a grade on an exam or assignment if you cannot provide the original copy. Should you have any discrepancy with a grade you receive, you must submit a written complaint and meet with me within one week of receiving the grade. Bring the original copy of the exam or assignment to this meeting. Written complaints must address specific comments and/or grading criteria. Filing an appeal does not guarantee that your grade will be changed. Grades are not verbally negotiable.
Disabled Student Policy
Any student in this class may request learning assistance by submitting a written statement that describes the nature of your impairment and any specific accommodations you may need. I expect that most needs can be met quite easily by speaking with me. However, should you need additional assistance please contact the Dean of Students’ Office at or by calling (940) 565-2648.
Student Behavior in the Classroom:
Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other students' opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities to consider whether the student's conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The university's expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including university and electronic classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The Code of Student Conduct can be found at
Tentative Course Schedule
* Note: Reading assignments must be completed by the class period on the day they are listed.
Week One: 1/15, 1/17
Topic: Introduction and Orientation
Readings: read through Chapter 1
Week Two: 1/22, 1/24
Topic: Ethical Theory
Readings: read through Chapters 2 & 3
Week Three: 1/29, 1/31
Topic: Ethics in Policing, Part I
Readings: read through Chapters 4 & 5
Week Four: 2/5, 2/7
Topic: Conclude unit 1.
Exam: Exam 1 will be administered on 2/7. Be sure to bring your first ethical dilemma response with you to class on the 7th.
Week Five: 2/12, 2/14
Topic: Ethics in Policing, Part II
Readings: read through Chapters 6 & 7
Week Six: 2/19, 2/21
Topic: Ethics in Legal Advocacy
Readings: read through Chapters 8 & 9
Week Seven: 2/26, 2/28
Topic: Ethics and Sentencing Policy
Readings: Read through Chapter 10
Week Eight: 3/5, 3/7
Topic: Conclude unit 2.
Exam: Exam 2 will be administered on 3/7. Be sure to bring your second ethical dilemma response with you to class on the 7th.
Week Nine: 3/12, 3/14
Spring break, no classes
Week Ten: 3/19, 3/21
Topic: Punishment and the Death Penalty
Readings: read through Chapters 11 & 12
Week Eleven: 3/26, 3/28
Topic: Community Corrections and Restorative Justice
Readings: read through Chapters 13 & 14
Week Twelve: 4/2, 4/4
Topic: Prisons
Readings: read through Chapters 15 & 16
Week Thirteen: 4/9, 4/11
Topic: Conclude unit 3.
Exam: Exam 3 will be administered on 4/11. Be sure to bring your third ethical dilemma response with you to class on the 11th.
Week Fourteen: 4/16, 4/18
Topic: Crime Myths and Misconceptions of Harm
Readings: read through Chapters 17 & 18
Week Fifteen: 4/23, 4/25
Topic: Ethical Issues in Research
Readings: read through Chapter 19
Week Sixteen: 4/30, 5/2
Topic: Terrorism and Emerging Issues
Readings: read through Chapters 20 & 21
* The final exam will be administered May 7 from 8:00 to 10:00. Be sure to bring your fourth ethical dilemma response to class.
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