Department of Criminal Justice
Spring 2004
(3 Credit Hours)
IITV-Web Enhanced
Class Time:
Meeting Dates: March 11 –
Instructor: Dennis W. Catlin, Ph.D.
Office Location: NAU-Southern
Office Phone: (520)
879-7915 –
(520)
523-0384 –
Pager: (520) 410-1701 –
(928)
556-7827 –
Home Phone: (520) 296-9849
E-mail:
dennis.catlin@nau.edu
(FOR NON CLASS COMMUNICATION) All
communications related to this call must come through WebCT.
I will not answer class related E-mail that comes to my NAU address.
Website: http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~dwc5/
Office Hours: Before
and after class and by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
AND OBJECTIVES
Everyday we are faced with moral and ethical dilemmas in our personal and professional lives. Those who serve in the criminal justice system have a duty to act responsibly and ethically as they exercise the power entrusted to them by our form of government. During this course we will:
Review some of the basic ethical value systems that form the basis of western thought
Struggle with personal and professional ethical dilemmas
Review and analyze various professional codes of conduct
Develop a framework for analyzing personal and professional moral and ethical dilemmas
It is my hope that this course will:
Improve your recognition of moral issues
Further develop your moral imagination
Sharpen your analytical/critical skills relating to moral and ethical issues
Increase your ethical sensitivity
Increased your knowledge of relevant standards of conduct
Improve your ethical will power
Make ethical reflection a natural part of your own practical decision-making
There is no ethical position I expect to take, but I do
expect that you thoroughly develop, analyze, and express the nature and
application of your own system. We often
try to avoid ethical problems because they are very difficult. However, with the proper tools, they can be
understood and they can be enlightening and fun.
ATTENDANCE
Due to the compressed nature of this course, attendance is mandatory. Any student who misses the first class will be administratively withdrawn by me on March 12. Anyone missing more than the one class (or the equivalent of one class) will have their final grade reduced by one grade for each class, or portion of a class, missed beyond one. Should there be changes in the schedule of assignments or curriculum, it is your responsibility to stay informed of the changes.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Students with disabilities
documented by
COURSE STRUCTURE AND
APPROACH
This course will be conducted using a variety of educational methods. This includes lecture, discussion, on-line discussion, small group work, videotapes, guest speakers, role-playing, and simulation.
TESTS, WRITING
ASSIGNMENTS, AND GRADING SYSTEM:
Grades will be based on your performance on examinations and writing assignments, class attendance, and participation in class discussions.
§ Test 1 ( 50 points)
§ Test 2 (50 points)
§ Article Review (25 points )
§ Journal (25 points)
§ Class Participation (25 points)
§ Ethics Policy Paper (100 points)
§ Quizzes
To receive a grade in this course, all tests must be taken and all writing assignments handed in. In other words, if all tests are not taken and all assignments are not handed in, an “F” will be given.
An Incomplete grade will only be given in cases of documented medical emergencies and only if you are receiving a passing grade at the time the incomplete grade is requested.
Tests
There will be a mid-session test worth 50 points and a final test worth 50 points. These tests may consist of multiple choice, true false, short answer, and essay questions. The tests will cover lecture and discussion, guest expert presentations, text, and reading material. The preliminary dates of the tests are reflected in the attached course schedule. The date of the first test is subject to change depending on the progression of the course. It is your responsibility to remain informed about test dates.
Mid-session test: 50 points
Final test: 50 points
A missed test can only be made up in cases of medically
documented illness. The content and form
of make-up examinations will differ from the original examination and can only
be made up within 5 days of the original test.
It is the student’s responsibility to immediately notify me of the
reason for missing the test and arrange for a make-up time.
Article Review
One article review from a scholarly academic journal will be required. This review can come from any area of ethical concern but must directly address ethics. I would suggest that any article you select have the word ethics or morality in the title or abstract.
The article review must be based on articles appearing in scholarly peer reviewed academic journals. Publications such as Time, Newsweek, People Magazine, etc. do not qualify.
In order to assure that the article is
appropriate, you must submit the full citation of the article to me for my
review and approval by
§ These must be reviews of articles appearing in a scholarly academic journal.
§ They must be current articles. Articles older than 1999 are not acceptable.
§ The articles must be based on empirical research conducted by the authors.
The article is due at
They must be typed and double-spaced with 1 inch margins and in 12 point type. The length will depend on the article you choose. The review must contain the following elements.
You must use these heading for each sections of your article review. Not doing so will significantly reduce your score.
1. The accurate bibliographic reference to the article.
2. The main ethical issue, idea, thesis, research hypothesis, or research question stated by the author(s).
3. The definition of any terms the author uses.
4. The research method used or the important facts the author(s) uses to support the idea, thesis, hypothesis, or research question.
5. Conclusion(s) the author(s) reach.
6. Your analysis of the article, including any examples of bias or faulty reasoning on the part of the author(s). In this section you should concentrate on applying the ideas and concepts we have discussed in class or from the reading which provide a framework for analyzing ethical issues.
The following general criteria will be used in grading the article reviews:
0 Missing, turned in late and score reduced or article from unacceptable journal
5 Turned in but unintelligible or erroneous.
10 Covered some of required elements, but serious omissions
15 Covered all of the elements in a minimal fashion
20 Covered all of the elements in depth but provided little or no independent analysis
25 Covered all of the elements and showed ability to provide an independent analysis
During the course, you will submit 5 journal essays. You are to write a two page, typed, double-spaced essay reflecting on the subject of that week’s class discussion (1 inch margins in 12 point standard type).
§ The essays can contain your personal ethical experiences.
§ They can contain references to current events that you have read about or heard about as they relate to criminal justice ethics and how the subjects we discussed are reflected in the current events.
§ They can be based on interviews you conduct with those who work in the justice system.
You will submit these weekly and I will grade them at the end of the course as an entire group. These will also be the basis for class discussion. I will give you feedback on your first journal submission.
The top of each submission should contain the submission number (ie. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
The journal will be worth 25 points.
The submissions are due prior on the date and at the time indicated in the course curriculum schedule.
Five (5) points will be deducted for each day or portion of a day a journal submission is late. This means that you could lose all the points for your journal (25 points) if one essay submission was 5 days late.
Ethics Policy Paper
The ethics policy paper will require you to select a criminal justice policy and examine it in light of the values and ethics theories we have been studying. There is a wide range of possible policy issues you might select. Some examples are:
Sentencing Policy
The Death Penalty
Use of Force including Deadly Force
Lying and Deception as Investigative Techniques
Defending the Guilty
In order to make sure this paper is progressing, there are several preliminary materials you must submit. The dates for the submissions are in the timetable. These preliminary materials are:
1. Policy statement you intend to write about.
2. General outline of the paper
3. References you intend to use
The paper should be 12 – 15 pages in length. It should be double spaced, 12 point type with 1 inch margins. The references and citations must be in the APA (American Psychological Association) style. You must have at least 6 references from scholarly sources (books and journals). You cannot use any of the readings we are using in class for these 6 references; however, you may use them as supplemental material.
You will receive a “0” if the paper is turned in late.
General Instructions for Writing Assignments
The general rule for all writing assignments is that they are grammatically correct and checked thoroughly for spelling. Further, the organization of writing assignments must follow a logical and coherent pattern. Points will be deducted for misspelling as well as poor grammar, sentence structure, and organization.
All writing assignments must be done in either Microsoft
Word or Corel Word Perfect. They MUST BE
submitted on the date and at the time indicated in the Course Curriculum and
Schedule. They will be submitted as an attachment to a WebCT
E-mail. This will be explained in
detail. No other means of submitting
them will be acceptable.
You are responsible for the timely and accurate submission
of these papers. You are responsible for
insuring that the papers are attached to your e-mails. E-mails without
attachments will not suffice for meeting deadlines.
The assignments will be graded and returned to you in the
same way.
You must also bring a copy of your work to class.
I reserve 25
points of the total grade points and will assign those points based on my sole
judgment of the quality and frequency of your participation. You will be graded not only on your in-class
participation but also your on-line participation.
There will be
on-line discussions. You are required at a minimum to respond to every question
I pose to you during on-line discussions.
Quizzes
If it appears that students are not preparing for class, or there are excessive absences, I will exercise the option of conducting quizzes at the beginning or end of class. Each quiz will be worth 5 points.
Grading
90-100% = A
80-89% = B
70-79% = C
60-69% = D
Less than 60%=F
COURSE CURRICULUM AND SCHEDULE
Attached is a Preliminary Schedule of Topics,
Preliminary Schedule of Topics,
|
Class |
Topic |
|
Exams/ Assignments |
|
March 11 |
Course Introduction What is Ethics Defining Ethics Ethical Systems |
|
|
|
March 25 |
Ethical Systems |
Discussion Chapter 1 “Doing Ethics and The Basic Language of Ethics” Chapter 2 “Ethical Theories and Systems” |
Journal Submission 1 Due at |
|
April 1 |
Ethical Systems Defining Moral and Ethical Behavior Moral Development |
Discussion Reading Chapter 3 “Moral Relativism and Absolutism” Discussion Reading Chapter 4 “Developing Moral Judgment” Additional On-line Readings to be Assigned |
Journal Submission 2 Policy Paper Topic Due Submit Article for Approval due at |
|
Class |
Topic |
|
Exams/ Assignments |
|
April 8 |
Analyzing Ethical Dilemmas Justice and the Law |
Discussion Reading Chapter 5 “Ethical Dilemmas and Ethical Analysis” |
Journal Submission 3 Due at
|
|
April 15 |
Law Enforcement Ethics |
Discussion Reading Chapter 6 “Law Enforcement Ethics” “Ethical Orientations of State Police Recruits” |
Test 1 Policy Paper Outline and References Due by |
|
April 22 ON-Line Discussion |
Judicial and Legal Ethics |
Discussion Reading Chapter 7 “ Judicial Ethics Muraskin, M. “Ethical concerns
of a criminal defense attorney” In Morality and The Law, Muraskin, R and Muraskin, M. (Eds). McDonough, C., McDonugh, D. B.
and Keenan, R. G. “The ethical obligations of the criminal prosecutor”. In Morality and The Law, Muraskin, R and Muraskin, M. (Eds). |
Journal Submission 4 Due at Article Review Due by |
|
Class |
Topic |
|
Exams/ Assignments |
|
April 29 |
Ethical Issues in Corrections |
Pollock, J. M. Ethics in crime and justice (3rd
edition). |
Journal Submission 5 Due at |
|
May 6 |
Course Conclusion |
|
Test 2 Final Paper Due by |
The following are acceptable scholarly academic journals for article reviews and for the issue paper.
These journals are available through
NAU Cline Library and
Justice
System Journals
American Journal of Police
British Journal of Criminology
Crime and Delinquency
Crime and Justice
Criminal Justice and Behavior
Criminal Justice Review
International Review of Criminal Policy
Journal of Criminal Justice
Journal of Criminal Justice Ethics
Journal of Criminal Law (UA)
Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology
Journal of Forensic Sciences
Journal of Quantitative Criminology
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency
Judicature
Justice System Journal (UA)
Justice Quarterly
Juvenile and Family Court Journal (UA)
Law and Contemporary Problems
Law and Human Behavior
Law and Policy
Law and Social Inquiry: Journal of the American Bar Foundation
Law and Society Review
Violence and Victims
Wharton’s Criminal Procedure (UA)
Administration,
Management, and Organizational Theory Journals
Administrative Science Quarterly
Harvard Business Review
Industrial Relations
Journal of Human Resources
Journal of Organizational Behavior
Journal of Organizational Behavior Management
Management Science
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Process (UA)
Organizational Behavior and Human Performance (UA)
Organizational Dynamics
Public Administration and Development (UA)
Public Administration Review
Strategic Management Journal
The following are not acceptable as scholarly academic journals for purposes of article reviews.
Newspapers
News Magazines (Newsweek, Time, People)
Trade Magazines
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin
Corrections Today
Police Chief
Prisons Today
On the Line
Law and Order
American Jails
NORTHERN
POLICY
STATEMENTS
NAU’s Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy seeks to prohibit discrimination and promote the safety of
all individuals within the University.
The goal of this policy is to prevent the occurrence of discrimination
on the basis of sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, sexual
orientation, disability, or veteran status and to prevent sexual harassment,
sexual assault, or retaliation by anyone at this university.
You
may obtain a copy of this policy from the college dean’s office. If you have concerns about this policy, it is
important that you contact the departmental chair, dean’s office, the Office of
Student Life (523-5181), the academic ombudsperson (523-9368), or NAU’s Office of Affirmative Action (523-3312).
STUDENT WITH
DISABLILITIES
If
you have a learning and /or physical disability, you are encouraged to make
arrangements for class assignments/exams so your academic performance will not
suffer because of the disability or handicap.
If you have questions about special provisions for students with disabilities,
contact the Counseling and
It
is your responsibility to register with the Counseling and
If
the Counseling and
INSTITUTIONAL
REVIEW BOARD
Any
study involving observation of or interaction with human subjects that
originates at NAU - including a course project, report, or research paper –
must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for the
protection of human subjects in research and research –related activities.
The
IRB meets once each month. Proposals
must be submitted for review at least fifteen working days before the monthly
meeting. You should consult with your
course instructor early in the course to ascertain if your project needs to be
reviewed by the IRB and/ or to secure information or appropriate forms and
procedures for the IRB review. Your
instructor and department chair or college dean must sign the application for
approval by the IRB. The IRB categorizes
projects into three levels depending on the nature of the project: exempt from
further review, expedited review, or full board review. If the IRB certifies that a project is exempt
from further review, you need not resubmit the project for continuing IRB
review as long as there are no modifications in the exempted procedures.
A
copy of the IRB Policy and Procedures Manual is available in each
department’s administrative office and each college dean’s office. If you have questions, contact Carey Conover,
Office of Grant and Contract Services, at 523-4889.
ACADEMIC
INTEGRITY
The
university takes an extremely serious view of violations of academic
integrity. As members of the academic
community, NAU’s Administration, faculty, staff, and
students are dedicated to promoting an atmosphere of honesty and are committed
to maintaining the academic integrity essential to the educational
process. Inherent in this commitment is
the belief that academic dishonesty in all forms violates the basic principles
of integrity and impedes learning.
It
is the responsibility of individual faculty members to identify instances of
academic dishonesty and recommend penalties to the department chair or college
dean in keeping with the severity of the violation. Penalties may range from verbal chastisement
to a failing grade in the course. The
complete policy on academic integrity is in Appendix F of NAU’s
Student Handbook.
CLASSROOM
CIVILITY STATEMENT
Membership
in the academic community places a special obligation on all members to
preserve an atmosphere conducive to the freedom to teach and to learn. Part of the obligation implies the responsibility
of each member of the NAU community to maintain a positive learning environment
in which the behavior of any individual does not disrupt the classes of
teachers or learners.
It
is the responsibility of the individual faculty member to determine, maintain,
and enforce the standards of behavior acceptable to preserving an atmosphere
appropriate for teaching and learning.
Students will be warned if their behavior is evaluated by the faculty
member as disruptive.
Sanctions
may include a range of responses from immediate removal from class to referral
to the appropriate academic unit and/or the Office of Student Life to review
pertinent alleged university violations of ethical and behavioral
standards. Significant and/or continued
violations may result in administrative withdrawal from the class.