"Case Studies in Criminal Justice Ethics offers a variety of ethical dilemmas not uncommon in the criminal justice system and does in a practical and useful way. The scenarios are brief but impactful and will keep students engaged as each situation presents nuances and challenges to foster thinking and critical analysis." - John Barnett, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
“The new offering is founded in scenario-based lessons ready-made for discussion. I find the new text practical in its approach and has the potential to ignite student interest through real-world decision making. Let’s face it, when our students eventually become criminal justice practitioners, they are not going to be thinking about teleological and deontological ethics when confronted with an ethical dilemma.” — Kevin M. Hermes, Illinois Valley Community College
182 pages, $30.95 list
1-4786-4620-9
978-1-4786-4620-4
© 2021
paperback
eBook availability
Case Studies in Criminal Justice Ethics
Third Edition
Ethical conflicts rarely involve clear-cut choices. Decision making in ambiguous circumstances challenges personal values and professional ethics. The fog of politics, personal bias, and past experiences factor into the choices made. The goal of this compelling collection of cases is to stimulate reflection about the ethical dilemmas encountered in interactions. Thought-provoking case studies address police misconduct, protests and civil unrest, school resource officers, questionable prosecutorial practices, the challenges of a pandemic for prisons, the influence of politics, ethnic/gender/sexual preference bias, family conflict, immigration, perceptions of terrorism, and executing someone who may be innocent.
The experiential approach presents readers with opportunities to think about decisions they might have to make as criminal justice professionals. People employed in criminal justice have a great deal of power and discretion, which can be used ethically or unethically. Introductions to the sections on law enforcement, the courts, corrections, and juvenile justice provide background for analyzing the hypothetical scenarios. Case commentaries and questions provoke discussion about potential courses of action and the consequences of various choices.
The experiential approach presents readers with opportunities to think about decisions they might have to make as criminal justice professionals. People employed in criminal justice have a great deal of power and discretion, which can be used ethically or unethically. Introductions to the sections on law enforcement, the courts, corrections, and juvenile justice provide background for analyzing the hypothetical scenarios. Case commentaries and questions provoke discussion about potential courses of action and the consequences of various choices.
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Section I: ETHICS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
1. Fringe Benefits
2. Right Side of the Tracks—Wrong Side of the Law
3. Employment or Ethics?
4. Room at the End of the Hall
5. A Victim of Rape?
6. Different Choices, Equal Protection
7. "I've Got My Rights!"
8. Black and Blue
9. Double Bind
10. Judge, Jury, and Executioner?
11. Prominent Deviance
11. The Bully or the Badge
13. The War at Home
14. Eviction Notice
15. A Conflict of Purpose
16. Sanctuary City?
Section II. ETHICS AND THE COURTS
1. Where Does Protest End and Crime Begin?
2. Child Rapist?
3. Murder by Internet
4. Probation for Profit
5. Probation or Jail?
6. Lost Boys, Inc.
7. The Court and Child Abuse
8. A Question of Integrity
9. Everyone Does It
10. Conflicting Duties
11. The Truth or Perjury?
12. Presentence Investigation: A Fair Shake?
13. Defending the Constitution
14. Brothers and Law
15. It's a Rat Race, and the Best Rat Wins
16. See No Evil?
Section III. ETHICS AND CORRECTIONS
1. The Limits of Responsibility
2. The Minister and the Ex-Offender
3. A Farmer's Dilemma
4. A Legacy of Corruption
5. A Question of Policy
6. Family Connections
7. Man in the Middle
8. Correctional Counseling?
9. Temporary Release
10. Sexual Harassment
11. Confidentiality or Security?
12. Offender Rights and Public Expectations
13. Who's Running the Prison?
14. Covid 19: Managing a Pandemic in Prison
15. Outsourcing for Profit
16. Death Row Dilemma
Section IV. ETHICS AND JUVENILE JUSTICE
1. The Teacher, the Delinquent, and the Gang
2. A Family of Offenders
3. A Choice of Punishments
4. “I Sorry, Officer”
5. Neighborhood Brat
6. Zero Tolerance or Intolerance?
7. Cruisers
8. Mothers and Their Children
9. Sins of the Fathers?
10. Welcome Home?
11. A Conflict of Beliefs
12. Jihad Joey
13. Guilty by Tattoo
14. Just to See How It Feels
15. The Best Use of Resources
16. Armed and Dangerous?
1. Fringe Benefits
2. Right Side of the Tracks—Wrong Side of the Law
3. Employment or Ethics?
4. Room at the End of the Hall
5. A Victim of Rape?
6. Different Choices, Equal Protection
7. "I've Got My Rights!"
8. Black and Blue
9. Double Bind
10. Judge, Jury, and Executioner?
11. Prominent Deviance
11. The Bully or the Badge
13. The War at Home
14. Eviction Notice
15. A Conflict of Purpose
16. Sanctuary City?
Section II. ETHICS AND THE COURTS
1. Where Does Protest End and Crime Begin?
2. Child Rapist?
3. Murder by Internet
4. Probation for Profit
5. Probation or Jail?
6. Lost Boys, Inc.
7. The Court and Child Abuse
8. A Question of Integrity
9. Everyone Does It
10. Conflicting Duties
11. The Truth or Perjury?
12. Presentence Investigation: A Fair Shake?
13. Defending the Constitution
14. Brothers and Law
15. It's a Rat Race, and the Best Rat Wins
16. See No Evil?
Section III. ETHICS AND CORRECTIONS
1. The Limits of Responsibility
2. The Minister and the Ex-Offender
3. A Farmer's Dilemma
4. A Legacy of Corruption
5. A Question of Policy
6. Family Connections
7. Man in the Middle
8. Correctional Counseling?
9. Temporary Release
10. Sexual Harassment
11. Confidentiality or Security?
12. Offender Rights and Public Expectations
13. Who's Running the Prison?
14. Covid 19: Managing a Pandemic in Prison
15. Outsourcing for Profit
16. Death Row Dilemma
Section IV. ETHICS AND JUVENILE JUSTICE
1. The Teacher, the Delinquent, and the Gang
2. A Family of Offenders
3. A Choice of Punishments
4. “I Sorry, Officer”
5. Neighborhood Brat
6. Zero Tolerance or Intolerance?
7. Cruisers
8. Mothers and Their Children
9. Sins of the Fathers?
10. Welcome Home?
11. A Conflict of Beliefs
12. Jihad Joey
13. Guilty by Tattoo
14. Just to See How It Feels
15. The Best Use of Resources
16. Armed and Dangerous?