07 Jan Please develop, while

Module 1 Active Learning

During this module, we will be looking at corrections, specifically, “Women in Prison: Sexual Misconduct by Correctional Staff,” a report written by the United States General Accounting Office.

This report is very thorough and will give you an overview of the findings. In addition, the report focuses on four separate organizations: Federal Bureau of Prisons, California Department of Corrections, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and District of Columbia Department of Corrections.

You are to read the government report by clicking here or by going to the Webliography. Then respond logically with your own thoughts and opinions.

Module 2 Active Learning

We often think of misconduct only being committing by police or correctional officers, but what happens when the prosecutor is under investigation for misconduct. Please click here and read the article by Elaine Cassel and think of the implications from the actions of the prosecutor and future cases. The link to this article is also in the Webliography.

Module 3 Active Learning

Click here and read the article, “Miranda is not the Problem: Police Deception Is,” by Dave Kopel regarding police interrogation. It is understood that this article could be slanted one way or the other, but for the moment let’s agree that the information is true, and if so, what are your thoughts about the interrogation methods and if they violate any ethical principles?

Module 4 Active Learning

As you read the prison time line, you will see that records start around 1940’s with approximately 200,000 inmates per year. Today, or at least with the latest statistics available we have adults under correctional supervision there is 1 in 35 reportedly under the Department of Corrections. In looking at the reported censes data, you find the following:

1940- 132.2 Million People with approximately 200,000 under correctional supervision= less than 1% of the total population

2010- 208.7 million people with million people under correctional supervision= 3% of the population

The increase of 2% over the last 70 years identifies a drastic increase. Some of the questions that have been posed are: Have we gotten stiffer laws? Is there more people taking on the life of Crime? Is society becoming more violent? With all of the questions, what is the truth?

For this assignment, what is your opinion on why crime has gone up 2%?

Module 5 Active Learning

For this module, you are to read an article, newspaper, magazine, or other material that has a direct impact on ethical issues in the field of criminal justice. After reading the material, you are to develop an overview of the article, a critical response to your feelings on what happened and to what extent, and how this could be prevented in the future. Your initial comments should be no less than 500 words.

Module 6 Active Learning

This week we will be looking at another side of the criminal justice system. We will be looking at a prosecutor in North Carolina. There has been much written about the Duke University Lacrosse case. You can find more about this case but these two will get you started.

Click here to read, “Prosecutor in Duke Case Faces Ethics Complaint,” by David Barstow and Duff Wilson.

Click here to read, “Prosecutor Asks State to Take Over Duke Case,” by Duff Wilson.

These articles can also be accessed in the Webliography.

After reading the articles, share your thoughts about this case.

You might also check the American Bar Association site for a code of ethics (though each state might be a little different). Also, see the New York Times and any other articles you find important.

Module 7 Active Learning

The article for this module’s active learning discussion highlights another side of the Justice System: The courts and the legislature.

Click here to read, “Judges On Wrong Side Of The Law,” by the Associated Press.

This link can also be accessed in the Webliography.

Though the acts do not necessarily talk about the criminal justice system, they talk about white color crime; judges that should be impartial and legislators that should be concerned with laws that are beneficial to the people and not special interests.

The question we should ask ourselves is, how can we work to improve the judicial and legislative system’s ethics to make them as free from corruption as possible?

Public trust is an important factor and your views and thoughts as to creating a more ethical environment in the judiciary and legislative branches of government is sought. Please discuss and have a lively discourse on this very important topic.

NOTE: MOST judges and legislators, like most police officers, are honest; this is not an impeachment of the system but a sharing of views as to how we can make it a better system.

This article is from the Associated Press. If political parties were removed from the context, it would be applicable to both parties.

Module 8 Active Learning

This is your last active learning discussion (a collective sigh of relief can be heard).

In Chapter 15 of your textbook, the author discussed various factors that shape and determine our style of ethical inquiry, including feminist and masculine factors.

Please develop, while using outside sources, your own set of personal questions you might ask yourself when confronted with an ethical dilemma or situation and share them with each other.

An interesting one is the Bell, Book, and Candle. This system suggests that you ask yourself three questions before making a decision in an ethical situation:

Bell – Does the decision or action sound right?

Book – Does the decision violate any written laws, rules, or policies?

Candle – How will the decision look when exposed to the “light of day,” or public scrutiny?

Each student is expected to have created and shared an ethical questionnaire that is simple and easily remembered to help the learner lead him/herself to ethical conclusions as each of you begin and/or continue your work in the criminal justice system.