CJ 465 Professionalism and Ethics in Criminal Justice
Welcome to the class "homepage" for CJ 465 (Professionalism and Ethics in Criminal Justice) being offered by Dr. Dennis Longmire through Sam Houston State University's College of Criminal Justice.
If you are not enrolled in the class, feel free to wander around the sites included here to see what we're up to in the class. Your comments and suggestions for additions to the material is appreciated and can be sent to Dr. Longmire.
Students enrolled in any of the sections of this class being taught by Dr. Longmire will be using this page for class assignments and class management purposes. If you are enrolled in a totally "On-Line" presentation of this class, you can gain access to the particular Learning Modules through the links below, however, announcements concerning the availability of these Modules will be posted through the Blackboard portal for your particular section.
Class Management Materials
Course Syllabus (Fall 2002) Class Roster
Link to a site that provides guidelines for ethical/moral decision making:
Center for Applied Ethics
General Overview of Class
SECTION 1 A - Why and How to Approach Ethics and Criminal Justice Professionalism
This section provides you with a general idea about what we will be discussing during the semester and introduces you to the study of ethics. It includes a brief discussion of the importance of ethical reflection for people in general as well as why it is particularly important for criminal justice professionals (and students) to study ethics This material is presented through to two Learning Modules associated with this material: Learning Module 1-A. This Module can be accessed through the ’ÄúCourse Documents’Äù portal located at the Blackboard Portal for this class. Students are expected to work through the Module on their own pace, however, everyone is required to complete all of the material within the time-frame posted in the Class Schedule listed in the Syllabus.
Each Module includes a PowerPoint presentation with annotated comments associated with each slide. MAKE SURE YOU VIEW THESE PRESENTATIONS SETTING THE VIEW AS EITHER NORMAL OR NOTES SO THAT YOU CAN READ THE COMMENTS. ALL MATERIAL INCLUDED IN THE PRESENTATIONS AND NOTES ARE FAIR GAME FOR INCLUSION ON THE QUIZZES.
You will need to have a PowerPoint Viewer which can be downloaded free of charge at: PowerPoint Viewer .
SECTION 1-B - ETHICS, LAW, AND RELIGION: POINTS OF CONVERGENCE AND POINTS OF DIVERGENCE
This section of the class is presented through Learning Module 1-B and focuses on the relationship between morality and the law. It also includes information about how religion relates to these two institutions of control. We will discuss this summary sheet in detail during our discussions on the first Synchronous Discussion Session so everyone should have reviewed it prior to the date scheduled for that session and in line with the time-frame posted on the Class Schedule.
SECTION 2 - THE STUDY OF ETHICS AND MORAL SYSTEMS
This section of the class is delivered through three different learning modules. The general material focuses on the history of normative ethics and provides a basic overview of some of the major normative ethical perspectives that have been developed over time. It starts with a discussion of the classic thinkers presented in Learning Module 2-A and Learning Module 2-B and is followed with a discussion of some of the more contemporary and non-classical approaches to this area of inquiry in Learning Module 3.
This link: Cyber-Enhanced Outline takes you to a cyber-enhanced version of the outline for this section. It includes a variety of links associated with the different material and normative philosophers being discussed. Material at these links will NOT be used to develop quiz questions but the material may help you better understand some of the issues being discussed.
Learning Modules 2-A, 2-B and 3 can be accessed through the Course Materials folder located at the main Blackboard portal for this class.
All modules must be completed in line with the time frame posted in the Class Schedule.
QUIZ 1 WILL DRAW FROM THE MATERIAL INCLUDED IN LEARNING MODULES 1-A, 1-B, 2-A, 2-B, AND 3 ALONG WITH THE REQUIRED READING MATERIAL FROM BRASWELL ET AL FOR THESE SECTIONS AS LISTED IN THE SYLLABUS.
THIS QUIZ MUST BE COMPLETED DURING THE TIME-FRAME POSTED IN THE CLASS SCHEDULE.
SECTION 3 - TOWARD A NORMATIVE ETHICAL ANALYSIS OF AMERICA'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
This section of the class is presented in the form of five different learning modules. Learning Module 4 is designed to introduce students to a formula for normative ethical decision making that draws from the classical and non-classical perspectives of normative ethics discussed in Section 2 of the class. Learning Modules 5, 6, 7, and 8 then take you through an application of this formula to each of the different components of the criminal justice system (police, the courts, and corrections) along with a specific focus on the normative ethics of the death penalty.
These modules focus on contemporary ethical issues currently facing criminal justice professionals and are designed to compliment the material presented in the assigned chapters of Braswell et al. These Modules must be completed within the time frame posted in the Class Schedule and the quizzes associated with the material must be completed within the appropriate time-frame as well.
QUIZ 2 WILL FOCUS ON LEARNING MODULES 4 AND 5 AS WELL AS THE ASSIGNED CHAPTERS FROM BRASWELL ET AL.
QUIZ 3 WILL FOCUS ON LEARNING MODULES 6 AND 7 AS WELL AS THE ASSIGNED CHAPTERS FROM BRASWELL ET AL.
QUIZ 4 WILL FOCUS ON LEARING MODULE 8 AS WELL AS THE ASSIGNED CHAPTERS FROM BRASWELL ET AL.