What Would You Do? Ethical Decision-Making Scenario

• Assignment 1 Scenario
• You are a criminal justice professional working evening shift in a midsized community. During your shift, you are assigned to respond to a call involving a minor but emotionally charged incident that presents multiple ethical considerations.
• You are dispatched to a neighborhood where a store owner has called to report a suspected theft involving a young adult. Upon arrival, you learn that the individual attempted to leave the store without paying for a low-cost item. The individual did not attempt to flee, cooperated immediately when confronted, and returned the item without resistance. The store owner is frustrated and insists that charges be filed, stating that similar incidents have occurred in the area and that they want to send a message.
• During your interaction, the individual appears anxious and distressed. They explain that they recently lost their job and were attempting to obtain a basic necessity. The individual has no prior criminal history and provides identification. English is not their first language, and communication is slow but respectful. You notice that the individual avoids eye contact and speaks quietly, which the store owner interprets as dishonesty.
• Department policy allows you discretion in handling minor offenses. You may issue a citation, make an arrest, refer the individual to a diversion or community-based program, or resolve the matter informally. At the same time, you are aware that your department has emphasized reducing repeat calls for service from local businesses and maintaining strong community relations. You also know that supervisors closely review discretionary decisions, particularly those involving public complaints.
• As you consider how to proceed, you recognize that this situation involves competing interests, including legal authority, ethical responsibility, individual rights, cultural considerations, organizational expectations, and community trust. Your decision will affect the individual involved, the business owner, public perception of fairness, and your professional accountability.
• Student Prompt
• Using the concepts from the assigned course articles, prepare a What Would You Do? ethical decision-making report addressing the following:
• Explain the ethical dilemma present in this scenario.
• Identify the competing values, responsibilities, and pressures influencing the decision.
• Describe what action you would take and why.
• Explain how moral reasoning, discretion, and ethical decision-making models support your response.
• Discuss how cultural competence, bias awareness, and community relations influenced your decision.
• Your response should demonstrate professional judgment, ethical reasoning, and application of course concepts rather than personal opinion.

What Would You Do? Ethical Decision-Making Report

• Student Writing Guide
• Purpose of This Assignment
• This assignment asks you to analyze an ethical dilemma using professional judgment rather than personal opinion. You will explain how you would respond to the scenario by applying ethical reasoning, discretion, cultural awareness, and criminal justice values discussed in the course readings.
• How to Organize Your Report
• Introduction
• Briefly summarize the scenario and identify your role as a criminal justice professional. State that the purpose of the report is to analyze the ethical dilemma and explain how you would respond using course concepts.
• Ethical Dilemma
• Explain what makes this situation an ethical dilemma. Describe why the decision is not automatic or simple and identify the conflict between law, ethics, discretion, fairness, and professional responsibility.
• Competing Values and Pressures
• Discuss the competing values involved, such as fairness, accountability, public trust, organizational expectations, and individual rights. Explain how these competing factors make the decision challenging.
• Ethical Reasoning and Discretion
• Explain how ethical reasoning should guide the use of discretion in this situation. Apply ethical decision-making concepts from the course to show how a professional should evaluate possible options before acting.
• Cultural Competence and Bias Awareness
• Discuss how cultural differences, communication barriers, or implicit bias may influence perceptions and decision-making in the scenario. Explain why cultural awareness is important in making an ethical and fair decision.
• Your Decision: What Would You Do?
• Clearly state what action you would take. Justify your decision using ethical principles, professional standards, and course readings. Explain how your response balances fairness, accountability, and respect for individual rights.
• Impact on Community Trust and Professional Integrity
• Explain how your decision supports public trust, ethical practice, and the legitimacy of the criminal justice system.
• Conclusion
• Summarize the ethical issue, your decision, and why ethical reasoning is essential in criminal justice decision-making.
• Writing Expectations
• Write in full paragraphs using a professional, academic tone.
• Base your analysis on course concepts, not personal opinion.
• Support your decision with ethical reasoning and assigned readings.

Revisions my paper it have to:The chapter is supposed to be exactly six paragraphs long, and each of its paragraphs must correlate exactly to each of the points on the first-chapter template. This work has not yet been done. Revise accordingly and send the next version here, please.

The essay must be 9 pages long, discussing Racial bias in the field (e.g., corrections, policing, courts, including the following questions : including ALL of the 3 following things: 1.) Why your topic is relevant in the criminal justice system today 2.) What ethical issues are presented by your topic 3.) What ethical approaches we have learned in this class could help professionals in your topic area practice more ethically. Casual websites and Wikipedia may be used as supplements but are NOT acceptable as the only sources cited in your paper. Articles from reputable newspapers, scholarly articles, and law review articles are far better choices and will influence my grade. Also you can use scholarly articles from google scholar as well. Make sure that the articles have the links to the EXACT source that you used. The essay is due by tomorrow evening.

The essay must be 9 pages long, discussing Racial bias in the field (e.g., corrections, policing, courts, including the following questions : including ALL of the 3 following things: 1.) Why your topic is relevant in the criminal justice system today 2.) What ethical issues are presented by your topic 3.) What ethical approaches we have learned in this class could help professionals in your topic area practice more ethically. Casual websites and Wikipedia may be used as supplements but are NOT acceptable as the only sources cited in your paper. Articles from reputable newspapers, scholarly articles, and law review articles are far better choices and will influence my grade. Also you can use scholarly articles from google scholar as well. Make sure that the articles have the links to the EXACT source that you used. The essay is due by tomorrow evening.

Outline and Final Project

OVERVIEW

This document describes your final project (due by the last day of the semester) as well as the outline you are required to prepare ahead of time. Check the Course Calendar for the due dates for both the outline and the final project.

For your final project you will:

• Choose a courts and criminal procedures topic.
• Research the relevant literature.
• Explain and apply key terms and concepts relevant to your topic.
• Critically examine your topic.
• React to a controversial statement or position on that topic.
• Evaluate various theories considering existing research and your own experience.
• Take a position and write a position paper, making reference to the interdependence of criminal justice with other fields such as psychology or sociology.

You will begin with an outline. The purpose of the outline is to provide your mentor with a proposal, in the form of a full-sentence outline, for your position paper. Your outline must include a complete (fully formulated) reaction statement and a list of all references (scholarly books, articles, and other sources of information) you plan to use to write your paper. Your mentor will review this outline to make sure that you are on the right track and provide you with valuable feedback.

The goal of the outline is to help your mentor understand why you have chosen your topic. Therefore, your outline should answer the following questions:

• Why did you select this topic?
• Why is it important to you?
• What are the key issues you will address?
• What is your position on the issue?
• What resources do you plan to use to support your position?

The more information you provide in the outline, the better your mentor will be able to grasp your intent; the more your mentor knows about your paper, the better they will be able to provide guidance.

FINAL PROJECT OUTLINE GUIDELINES

Please use the following guidelines to create your outline.

• Your outline should be between 375 and 600 words in length.
• Your outline should include a complete, fully formulated reaction statement that clearly states the issue and defines the key areas you are addressing.
• Your outline should be a .
• Your outline should present the structure and content of your paper, as well as the references you plan to use to support your position. Embed in-text citations in your outline and add references at the end of your outline. Merely listing references at the end of your outline is not enough. You must include in-text citations.

The following instructions are relevant both to your outline and to the project itself.

1. Select a current issue related to courts and criminal procedures. This should be an issue that you are passionate about. How do you find a current issue? Below are some possible sources. You are encouraged to find your own sources. If you find any that may be helpful to your classmates, feel free to share them through the discussion board or Class Lounge.

• .
• Google a list of Supreme Court cases being decided in the current/next year. A search such as Supreme Court cases to watch or Supreme Court cases in [current year] should work. The site also has a list.

In addition, here are a few additional topics that you may have interest in and want to research for your final project:

• Legal procedural issues involved with the reclassification or decriminalization of drugs
• The erosion of the right to privacy
• Issues involved with the use of the drug courier profile
• Alternatives to the exclusionary rule

Note: The topic you select should be a current United States issue. Do not select an issue from a foreign country unless your idea is first approved by your mentor.

1. Research the issue. You are required to use at least five sources for your paper. The only references you may cite are:
2. Peer-reviewed, professional journal articles (e.g., articles published in journals such as Crime and Delinquency, Police Quarterly, Social Problems, American Psychological Review), law review articles, scholarly books (excluding the course textbook)
3. Federal and state case law (i.e., appellate court decisions)
4. State or federal statutes (including references to their legislative history)
5. Government publications (e.g., Uniform Crime Reports, National Institute of Justice publications, U.S. Census Data)
6. Scholarly websites

Do not cite non-scholarly newspaper or magazine articles. Consult the Research tab in Moodle, where you will find databases with scholarly articles. The New Jersey State Library is a good place to search, especially the Criminal Justice database.

1. Keep in mind that the references you select must include: (a) at least one scholarly book (i.e., an edited volume or full-length book) published within the last three to five years (this will indicate that you are familiar with current research and data in the field), and (b) at least one criminal justice professional journal article published within the last three to five years (this will indicate that you know how to find current information in this field).
2. Include an annotated bibliography in your outline. Your mentor needs to know that you have a rationale for selecting the sources you did. Therefore you must provide an annotated bibliography for each of your sources. Include this annotated bibliography as part of the References section of your outline.

An is a summary of each source. Read and analyze the source, identify the main ideas, and determine whether the information is relevant to your topic. Paraphrase (use your own words) to express the main ideas. Each annotated bibliography entry should be at least one paragraph (minimum of four sentences). Start by paraphrasing the main ideas. End by explaining how the source is relevant to your topic.

1. Take a stand on the issue. After you have settled on an issue, think about the issue and take a stand. Formulate your thoughts. Know why you feel the way you do about the issue.
2. Evaluate the pros and cons of both sides of the issue. Display objectivity! You are not merely expressing your opinion. You are taking a point of view supported by professional literature. Do not merely conduct a superficial review of the issue. Roll up your sleeves and dig deep into the issue. Immerse yourself with the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of both sides of the issue. You must support all of your statements with citations from professional literature.

While you are analyzing your issue and using your multiple professional sources, it will be important to analyze how the sources relate. If you are using only one source in a section of your paper, remember to connect the source to overarching concepts and themes you have discussed in your paper. All parts of your paper, including your sources, must be related.

1. Create your outline. Present the structure and basic content of your paper in a full-sentence outline, including the sections it will have and the areas, ideas, theories, issues, and so on that you will present.
2. Abstract
3. Statement of the problem (reaction statement)
4. Analysis and defense of your position (create a separate point for each main idea or defense you will use to support your position)
5. Conclusion

In-text citations must be included in your outline and references must appear at the end of your outline. As stated, each reference must include an annotated bibliography. Note: When you write your final position paper, remember to remove the annotations and include just the references. All the references must be in proper APA format. Remember, a minimum of five references, excluding the course textbook, is required. Use a variety of references, not just one type of reference.

Written Assignment 02

Explain four elements of self defense and how they apply to the self- defense justification. Find a criminal case that involves “castle doctrine” and examine whether the justification of self- defense applies to that case. Do not use any cases mentioned in the textbook.

• It is required to read the Sample Research Assignment, Research Assignment Requirements, and APA Example files. They provide detailed information about required paper content and paper format (available in Content Start Here).
• Not meeting requirements will affect the grade in multiple criteria.
• Write formal academic research papers not creative writings (essays, blogs, or novels) or presentation/lecture notes.
• Intended readers are college educated adults.
• Length: 700-1000 words (2.5-4 pages double spaced) not including the title and reference pages
• Writing and paper format: Follow the course requirements.
• Do not use long direct quotations (longer than 30 words) and limit the use of direct quotations.
• References
• At least three acceptable references including the textbook
• At least one reference should be a peer-reviewed criminal justice academic journal article
• Providing false citations or references will not be tolerated. The assignment will receive zero.
• File format: Word format but pdf. format is acceptable
• Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin tool.

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Scenario As a new patrol officer, you have been given a task by your field training officer to demonstrate your understanding of how to locate a criminal statute to make an arrest and charge someone with a crime. Instructions 1. Look up 5 crimes (felonies) in your own state crime statutes link. If you cannot locate the statutes for your own state, you may use the MN statutes. Link: Minnesota State Statutes Then type the following information for each of the five selected criminal state statutes into a report: State Statute Number & Title Elements of the Offense Category of each crime, is it a misdemeanor or felony? Explain the features of each crime After your information for all five crimes, briefly explain why application of criminal state statutes is important for exhibiting principles of ethical conduct and professional behavior. This not a essay format Rubric Details Inclusion of State Statute Number & Title 18 possible points (18%) Elements of the Offense 18 possible points (18%) Crime Categorization 18 possible points (18%) Features Explanation 18 possible points (18%) Importance Explanation 18 possible points (18%) Professional Language & Presentation 10 possible points (10%)

Instructions In the wake of police reform and liability sensitive incidents, there have been many discussions and decisions made by department leaders involving police chases. Write a maximum five page paper (not including cover sheet and reference page) responding to the points made about pursuit reviews in the PERF Vehicular Pursuits Guide released in 2023. This is long document, so I want you to only concern yourselves with Section 4 “Post-Pursuit ReportingData Collection, Review, and Accountability” for your paper. Respond with what you recommend departments include in post pursuit reviews and how they should document them. You must include at least three references and write academically (this document can be on of them). Document found here: This task will require you to articulate your points and require “backing” from resources to defend your points. The student should think critically and not rely on personal opinions or experiences alone. No first person statements. APA formatting required. Remember to write this paper academically. Tip: There is a book called “APA the easy way”. It is short and to the point and you will find it helpful if this is your first time writing academically.