CJS 225 - Criminal Justice Ethics

3 credit hours - Three hours weekly; one term.
Provides a historical analysis of the moral and ethical issues encountered in policing, corrections, probation, parole, prosecution and criminal defense. Examines the consequences of ethical transgressions in the various areas of criminal justice practice. Topics include history of the criminal justice system, regulation of criminal justice professionals, professional discipline, police brutality, police misconduct, police-community relations, correctional misconduct and violations of policy and law. Explores the process for investigation of acts of misconduct and unethical behavior in the criminal justice field.

Crosslisted: Also offered as CJS 225H ; credit not given for both CJS 225 and CJS 225H .

Location(s) Typically Offered: Arnold Main Campus (MC) and Online (OL)

Term(s) Typically Offered: All terms

Course Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Understand the foundations of ethical theories by explaining and distinguishing major ethical theories, such as consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics, and apply them to ethical dilemmas in the criminal justice field.

2. Explore ethical decision-making in criminal justice by analyzing ethical decision-making processes specific to law enforcement, corrections, and the legal system and evaluate the impact of numerous factors, such as discretion, bias, and conflicting values.

3. Examine ethical issues in policing by critically evaluating ethical challenges faced by law enforcement officials, such as the use of force, racial profiling, corruption, and police accountability, and propose strategies to address these issues.

4. Assess ethical considerations in the legal system by analyzing ethical dilemmas within the legal realm, including issues related to criminal defense, prosecutorial misconduct, plea bargaining, and the death penalty, and demonstrate an understanding of the potential consequences.

5. Apply ethical principles to corrections by examining ethical challenges in the field of corrections, like the use of solitary confinement, inmate rights, rehabilitation, and reentry programs, and develop strategies to promote ethical practice and reduce recidivism rates.