Reference no: EM133544587

Assignment: Criminal Justice/Criminology

Learning Objectives:

Demonstrate the ability to identify and understand the basic ethical and philosophical tenets of criminal justice.

Purpose:

The purpose of this assignment is to apply concepts learned in Rushworth Kidder's reading on right vs. right dilemmas to your own personal ethical dilemma.

Task:

Part I:

Rushworth Kidder talks about genuine ethical dilemmas as tough choices in which individuals face right vs. right situations (as opposed to right vs. wrong situations). He goes on to argue that most ethical dilemmas fit one of four possible patterns identified in Ch. 1 by Rushworth Kidder. Describe a personal example of a 'right vs. right' ethical dilemma you have faced in the past. Answer the questions in the following order. All answers must be in complete sentences.

Question A. Describe the right vs. right ethical dilemma you faced.

Question B. Which type of right vs. right dilemma is this based on Kidder's reading? Explain why. (Truth vs. Loyalty, Individual vs. Community, Short term vs. Long term, or Justice vs. Mercy [another way to describe mercy is compassion])

Question C. What were the moral considerations behind the choices you were faced with? (This includes reviewing all of the facts and identifying all moral dilemmas for all parties involved).

Question D. What was the outcome of your ethical dilemma? In other words, what did you do?

Question E. What was the reasoning behind your choice?

Part II:

Consider the following dilemma: You are a police officer patrolling late at night and see a car weaving back and forth across lanes of traffic. You easily suspect either DUI or some form of distracted driving so you turn on your siren and lights and the car pulls over. Before you approach the car, the driver stumbles out of the car, obviously intoxicated. There is no question that the driver meets the legal definition of intoxication. The driver also happens to be your favorite person (e.g. mother, father, sibling, cousin, best friend, grandma, grandpa, coach, teacher, etc.).

Imagine the same scenario and the person is a complete stranger. What would you do and why?