Criminal Justice (CRJS) 490
Ethical Decision Making in Law Enforcement (Revision 1)
Revision 1 is closed for registrations, replaced by current version.
Delivery Mode: Individualized study online.
Credits: 3
Area of Study: Applied Studies
Prerequisite: None.
Faculty: Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
CRJS 490 is not available for challenge.
Overview
CRJS 490 - Ethical Decision Making in Law Enforcement provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities facing criminal justice professionals in a fluid 21st Century environment. With the level of scrutiny by the public and governments of police officers, corrections and the courts and access by mass media to down loads from cell phones accessible worldwide on the internet within hours of an event, the field of criminal justice has truly become global entertainment. More than ever our public institutions are compelled to view ethical behavior and the fallout from inappropriate conduct as one of the most critical issues facing organizations today.
Outline
Criminal Justice 490: Ethical Decision Making in Law Enforcement comprises the following nine units:
Unit 1: The Foundations and Philosophy of Ethics
Unit 2: What Contributes to Unethical Conduct?
Unit 3: Managing Ethical Dilemmas
Unit 4: Continuation of Compromise
Unit 5: Case Study Analyses
Unit 6: Ethical Scandals and How They Affect Public Trust
Unit 7: Ethical Challenges Facing Law Enforcement Leaders
Unit 8: Building Character and Organizational Values
Unit 9: Developing a Culture of Integrity
Evaluation
Your final grade in Criminal Justice 490: Ethical Decision Making in Law Enforcement will be based on the grades you achieve on the course assignments for credit.
To receive credit for the course, you must complete each assignment satisfactorily and achieve an overall course grade of at least “D” 50 per cent. The following table summarizes the assignments for credit, their weighting toward your final grade, and the date at which they are due according to the study schedule provided in this course.
| Assignment for Credit | Weighting | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1: Journal Exercise | 20% | You will keep a journal as you work your way through the course, with one entry to be completed and submitted after you have finished each of the nine units. |
| Assignment 2: Online Moderating and Posting | 20% | You will facilitate and synthesize an online discussion, either individually or with a partner, based on a course unit of your choice. You must also participate in at least one forum hosted by another student in the course. |
| Assignment 3: Unit Exercises | 30% | The questions found in the Unit Exercise section of each unit are to be answered after you have conducted additional research. Your answers are due as you complete each unit. |
| Assignment 4: Research Paper | 30% | You are required to write a research paper of 2500 to 3000 words on an approved topic. |
| Total | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Course Materials
The course materials for Criminal Justice 490: Ethical Decision Making in Law Enforcement are mostly found on the course website.
Textbooks
Caldero, M. A., & Crank, J. P. (2004). Police ethics: The corruption of the noble cause (2nd ed.). Matthew Bender & Company, Inc., a member of LexisNexis Group.
Delattre, E. J. (2011). Character and cops: Ethics in policing (6th ed.). Washington, DC: AEI Press.
Jones, J. R. (2005). Reputable conduct: Ethical issues in policing and corrections (3rd ed.). Pearson Education Canada.
Note: This item is an excerpt containing only Chapters 5, 6, and 10, which are required reading for the course.
Reading File
Required readings for this course are contained in the print Reading File or through the DRR, Digital Reading Room. You will be directed to these readings at the appropriate points in the course.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.
Opened in Revision 1, November 5, 2009.
Last updated by SAS 09/10/2013 11:31:20
