Ethics in Criminal Justice
Semester Hours Credit: 3
Course Dates/Times: 07APR - 19MAY
Monday: 1700-2100
Instructor: David Alexander
Instructor Email:
Phone: 3678-8782:
INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY
Mr. Alexander has been in Law Enforcement since 1988 starting with the Norfolk Police
Department in Norfolk, VA. He has time in Patrol Operations, Detective Bureau and Special
Operations. Enlisting in the Navy in 1996, he started as a NEC 9545 Security Guard attending
Master at Arms “A” School two years later followed by Corrections School. He has been
assigned to the USS Theodore Roosevelt and the USS Kearsarge operating the Brig on both
ships. Other assignments include shore and overseas commands where he has extensive
experience in Operations, CID and Administration of Naval Security Forces. Currently, he
manages the Administrative of NSA Bahrain Weapons He completed his Bachelor of Science
from Mountain State University and his Master of Science from Columbia
Southern University; both degrees are in Criminal Justice Administration.
I. INTRODUCTION
A. This course is an introduction to the study of Ethics in Criminal Justice. It will
provide the student with an in-depth view of ethical thought and issues facing the
criminal justice professional.
B. It is a required course for the Associate in Applied Science in Criminal Justice degree program.
C. This course is occupationally related and serves in preparation for careers in criminal justice, law enforcement, and corrections.
D. Prerequisite(s): (List) (None)
II. LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, Upon successful completion of this course, Ethics in Criminal Justice, the student will:
A. Explain the foundation of ethics.
B. Compare and contrast theories of ethics with personal and professional practices.
C. Interpret and apply ethical considerations in policing, the courts, and corrections.
III. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
A. Pollack, Joycelyn. (2012). Ethical Dilemmas & Decisions in Criminal Justice. : Wadsworth.
ISBN: 9781133441335
B. Resource
1. Braswell, Michael C., Belinda R. McCarthy and Bernard J. McCarthy, Justice
Crime and Ethics, 3rd ed, Cincinnati, OH: Anderson Pub, 1998.
2. Kappeler, Victor E., Richard D. Sluder and Geoffrey P. Alpert, Forces of
Deviance: Understanding the Dark side of Policing, 2nd Ed, Prospect Heights,
IL: Waveland Press, 1998.
3. Delattre, Edwin J, Character and Cops: Ethics in Policing, 3rd Ed, La Vergne,
TN: AEI Press, 1996.
4. Close, Daniel., Nicholas Meier, Morality in Criminal Justice: An Introduction
to Ethics, Cincinnati, OH; Wadsworth Publishing Co, 1995.
IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
A. Your first responsibility is scholarship. The grade you receive for this course will not be the grade of the instructor, but rather the grade you and you alone make.
B. You should attend class regularly and be prepared to participate in classroom discussions and to take unannounced quizzes relating to text assignments and lecture material presented from the beginning of the course. Please refer to ‘Class Attendance and Course Progress’ under the Academic Policies section in our current CTC Course Catalog: http://www.ctcd.edu/catintro.htm.
C. You are encouraged to give your best effort throughout the semester. From the beginning, you should plan for a steady, organized, and continuous effort, which in the long run will prove more effective for your final grade than a last minute crash-cram policy. Your course grade is not determined solely by exam grade. Such factors as class participation, initiative, attendance, and individual research papers or projects will be considered in grade computation.
D. From time to time, special library and/or outside assignments will be made to members of the class individually and/or in groups. You are expected to read all assignments and fulfill your responsibilities to any group assignment.
E. You are expected to read all assigned material and bring your textbook/reading materials to class. Keep informed on all assignments, especially after an absence.
F. Good class notes are indispensable for earning a good grade, since both the material assigned and that discussed in class will be the basis for examination material.
G. Scholastic Honesty: All students are required and expected to maintain the highest standards of scholastic honesty in the preparation of all coursework and during examinations. The following are considered examples of scholastic dishonesty:
Plagiarism: The taking of passages from the writing of others without giving proper credit to the sources.
Collusion: Using another’s work as one’s own, or working together with another person in the preparation of work, unless such joint preparation is specifically approved in advance by the instructor.
Cheating: Giving or receiving information on examinations.
H. Special Work: A term paper or other project, per requirements of the instructor, will be required. The subject must be appropriate for the course material. Check with the instructor when you have made a selection. The value is indicated in the semester grade computation and has considerable weight on your final average.
V. COURSE FORMAT – Hybrid with BLACKBOARD
This course has been developed as a hybrid course. Hybrid courses combine face-to-face classroom instruction with assignments and interaction with instructor via email. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that they have access to Blackboard and that they are familiar with the contents and assignments.
The course will meet for six weeks--once a week on Mondays from 1700-2100--for a four-hour session. In addition, instructional strategies will include weekly online discussion boards to develop case studies and group collaboration/projects.
VI. EXAMS
A. There will be a minimum of two major examinations and a written paper or project as follows:
1. Mid-term exam on 21APR14
2. Final exam on 12MAY14
3. Paper or Project due on 05MAY14
B. A student must be present for all examinations. Students who know in advance that they will be absent from an examination due to valid reasons must arrange to take an early examination. Unexpected absences due to illness or extenuating circumstances will require the student to see the instructor about individual make-up work.
C. Students without excused absences will be given a zero for the missed examination.
D. Examinations will consist of both objective (true/false, multiple choice, fill in-the-blank, and matching) and subjective (short answer and essay) questions. Students must be able to communicate both orally and in written form, thus some questions requiring the composition and writing of an essay answer will be required.
VII. SEMESTER GRADE COMPUTATIONS
The final grade in this course will be based on the following:
In-class participation/attendance 100 points
Paper or project 100points
Midterm exam 100 points
Final exam 100 points
Weekly discussion assignments 600 points ( 100 points each week)
Total possible points: 1000
POINTS GRADES
920-1000 = A
850-919 = B
800-849 = C
700-799 = D
less than 700 = F
VIII. NOTES AND ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FROM COURSE INSTRUCTOR
A. Tuition refunds are made only in the case of class cancellation or official and timely withdrawal from CTC or from a course. Please refer to the current course catalog for more details, at http://europe.ctcd.edu/library/catalog.php.
B. GoArmyEd students should contact their education counselor before withdrawing and are required to withdraw through the GoArmyEd portal.
Please note: a military withdrawal does not override CTC’s grading policy.
For self-pay students, refunds are computed from the date the Application for
Withdrawal or Refund is filed with the CTC Field Representative or designated Student Services Officer. Special conditions apply to students who receive federal, state, and/or institutional financial aid.
Tuition and fees paid directly to the Institution by the Veterans Administration, Title IV (Financial Aid Programs, a sponsor, donor, or scholarship shall be refunded to the source rather than directly to the students.
C. Course Withdrawals, Student Responsibilities: It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from a course. The instructor cannot initiate a withdrawal based upon a student’s request. Rather, students must initiate the withdrawal with the designated Education Center Representative, through the CTC Field Representative or the Student Services Officer for that region.
Applications for Withdrawal will be accepted at any time before the completion of 75% of the course, after which time the student will be assigned an “FN”- “Failure for Non-attendance.”
D. Incomplete / Course in Progress Grade Policy: An “IP” or “Incomplete” grade may be assigned by an instructor if a student has made satisfactory progress in a course with the exception of a major quiz, final exam, or other project. The “IP” grade may also be assigned based on circumstances beyond a student’s control, such as personal illness, death in the immediate family, or military orders. Notice of absences, with supporting documentation, may be required by the instructor. The instructor makes the final decision concerning the granting of the incomplete grade. With an “Incomplete” grade, students are required to complete a set amount of work before the instructor will submit an official letter grade. This date can be determined by the instructor but must be within 45 days of the course end date. After completion of the work the instructor can then change the grade of “IP” to the appropriate letter grade. If this work is not completed by the specified date the instructor will change the grade to “F”.
E. Cellular phones, beepers, and other electronic devices will be turned off while the student is in the classroom or laboratory unless the student is using the device for class purposes. No texting or social networking is allowed during class.
F. Instructor Discretion: The instructor reserves the right of final decision in course requirements.
G. Civility: Individuals are expected to be cognizant of what a constructive educational experience is and respectful of those participating in a learning environment. Failure to do so can result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.
IX. COURSE OUTLINE
Note:
The instructor has the right to change the course schedule. Any changes will be announced in class. If the student misses a class period and changes are announced, it is the student’s responsibility to receive the missed information from a classmate or the instructor.
Hybrid courses combine face-to-face classroom instruction with assignments and interaction via the internet. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that they have access to internet so that they may email the instructor. The class is broken down into six sessions. See below for course outline.
Session 1- (07-13 April 14) Intro and Chapters 1,2 & 3
i. Class will meet face to face 7 APR 14, 1700 to 2100)
ii. Online assignment/project is due Sunday midnight (European time)
A. Unit One: Course Introduction and Chapter 1, Morality, Ethics and Human Behavior
1. Unit Objectives: Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will:
a. Be able to give examples of how discretion permeates every phase of the criminal justice system and creates ethical dilemmas for criminal justice professionals.
b. Be able to explain why the study of ethics is important for criminal justice professionals.
c. Be able to learn the definitions of morals, ethics, duties, superogatories, and values.
d. Be able to describe what behaviors might fall under moral/ethical judgments.
e. Understand the difference between ethical issues and ethical dilemmas
2. Learning Activities:
a. Discuss course requirements and activities as contained in the syllabus
b. Classroom lecture/discussion
c. Reading assignment: Chapter 1
d. Homework and other assignments designated by the instructor
B. Unit Two: Chapter 2, Determining Moral Behavior
1. Unit Objectives: Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will:
a. Be able to define deontological and teleological ethical systems, and explain ethical formalism and utilitarianism.
b. Be able to describe how other ethical systems define what is moral; specifically, religion, natural law, ethics of virtue and ethics of care.
c. Discuss the argument as to whether or not egoism is an ethical system or not.
d. Explain the controversy between relativism and absolutism.
e. Be able to identify the three consistent elements of most of the approaches to resolving ethical dilemmas.
2. Learning Activities:
a. Classroom lecture/discussion
b. Reading assignment: Chapter 2
c. Homework and other assignments designated by the instructor
B. Unit Three: Chapter 3, Justice and Law
1 .Unit Objectives: Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will:
a. Describe the three themes included in the definition of justice.
b. Define the three types of justice described in the chapter.
c. Under corrective justice, distinguish between substantive and procedural justice.
d. Describe civil disobedience and when it may be appropriate.
e. Explain the concept of restorative justice and the programs associated with it.
2. Learning Activities:
a. Classroom lecture/discussion
b. Reading assignment: Chapter 3
c. Homework and other assignments designated by the instructor
Session 2- (14-20 APR14) Chapters4, 5 & 6
i. Class will meet face to face 14APR14 (1700 to 2100)
ii. Online assignment/project is due Sunday midnight (European time)
D. Unit Four: Chapter 4, Becoming an Ethical Professional
1. Unit Objectives: Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will:
a. Be able to describe the three major theories (and theorists) that attempt to explain behavior.
b. Become familiar with Bandura’s idea of self-regulation and how it can be “turned off.”
c. Describe what is necessary for moral growth according to Kohlberg.
d. Be familiar with the necessary elements for criminal justice ethics courses according to Sherman.
e. Become familiar with what steps organizational leaders should take to encourage ethical decision making on the part of employees.
2. Learning Activities:
a. Classroom lecture/discussion
b. Reading assignment: Chapter 4
c. Homework and other assignments designated by the instructor
E. Unit Five: Chapter 5, The Police Role in Society: Crime Fighter or Public Servant?
1. Unit Objectives: Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will:
a. Be able to describe the two different missions of law enforcement in a democracy.
b. Describe the types of control that police have at their disposal.
c. Provide the justification for police power and the basic ethical standards that derive from this justification.
d. Identify the differences between the formal ethics of law enforcement and the values of the police subculture.