Assignment
Purpose
Putting aside personal bias in order to make ethical decisions and employ discretion in the field of criminal justice, and when dealing with criminal justice personnel, is a challenge with deep historical roots. How to overcome these challenges as we evolve into a more diverse society is becoming a priority in all of the criminal justice professions.
The purpose of this assignment is to look at how ethical decision making has evolved over the years, and to explore the impact that ethical and unethical decision making has had on the administration of justice, as well as the men and women working in the criminal justice field.
Instructions:
Choose two decades - one before 1970 and one after. (i.e. 1960s and 1990s) with ethical challenges.
Identify the two decades chosen and explain why there were ethical, human rights and diversity challenges during each time period, and then for EACH decade, address the following from the point of view of either a law enforcement OR a correctional officer:
A. Discuss three major societal issues that impacted ethical and unethical behavior and decision-making during the decades.
B. Describe how societal issues and expectations for the profession you chose, and for ethics, differed over time.
C. Discuss how cultural differences impacted ethical and unethical behavior. Explain using at least 2 examples.
D. Explain the impact that sociocultural identity, personal norms, values and bias during the decade had on ethical decision making.