Students
are to write a 10 – 12 page research paper on an important ethical subject
where they develop and ethics policy. In essence, you have the opportunity to
solve an ethical dilemma on a grand scale. Students should identify an ethical
topic they are interested in studying and create a policy and/or a
recommendation to a state governing agency about how this ethical issue should
be handled moving forward. Your choices should be fueled by empirical research
and scholarly sources on the subject. This ethical issue will impact more than
just your own individual self—it will affect the lives of all those across the
state or even the country. Your job is to write a research paper for
the state governor to use as the basis for his/her decision on this issue.
As you write your paper, consider the moral rules that
will support your decision.
General structure of your policy analysis
1. Conduct a brief review/synopsis of the
relevant facts.
2. Identify what you believe to be the major
ethical issues and the relevant underlying values of each opposing side.
3. Set forth your recommendations for the
continued use, modification, or discontinuation of this policy. Your decision
must have some sort of rationale behind it. This is where you will present an
answer to the policy issue at hand. Before you can do this, you will have to
decide on what ethical system underlies your analysis. There is no right/wrong
system of ethics—choose the one with which you most closely identify. If you
are a utilitarian, your stance may be very different than if you identify with
ethical formalism or an ethic of care. But, as we know from our class
exercises, despite our different ethical systems, we may encounter the same
results.
Please adhere to
these directives:
Organization: Title
page, Abstract, Introduction, Body of the Paper, Conclusion.
The papers should have a brief introduction,
appropriate transitions between topic areas, and a short conclusion. I am
interested in each student’s ability to craft an organized approach to an
ethical issue in criminal justice. Synthesize the literature on the
subject and critically assess the ethical issue.
Substance: Each student should be able to
craft a well-reasoned ethical argument. Since we will be addressing
“hot” topics of current debate, emotions will run high. However,
please try to support your argument with more than just emotion. Where
appropriate, essays should draw from course readings, lectures, and discussions
particular to the subject matter.
References: Consult at least
five (5) outside peer reviewed sources to complete this assignment (the course
readings do not count). Please consider the five-source requirement as
establishing the baseline; students seeking higher grades are advised to
broaden their research.
THESE MUST BE PEER REVIEWED SOURCES
