CJA 486 UP The Best Practices in Ethical Decision Making Presentation

#1

Criminal justice professionals in management positions are accountable to the public and to their teams, supervisors, and subordinates for the decisions they make in the line of duty. Individuals in every branch are expected to analyze the complexity of different situations and to determine ethical ways of responding to them. As a manager, you will need to be ready to speak to the ethical factors that inform decision-making strategies used in various criminal justice environments.

Imagine that you manage a team at an agency that has been invited to participate in a focus group for the ethics board. The focus group plans to compile a report on best practices in ethical decision-making to manage situations and dilemmas. For this assessment, you will prepare a response that you would present in the focus group.

Select one of the following criminal justice environments at the state or federal level as your focus for this assessment:

Interaction between law enforcement and the community

Crisis scenario or disaster situation

Pretrial assessment

Pretrial detention

Correctional facility (e.g., prison, jail, juvenile detention center)

Clinic with diversion program for individuals with mental health issues

Parole environment (e.g., halfway house)

Research a case that calls into question the ethical conduct of a criminal justice professional within the selected criminal justice environment. Choose a real case published in the media and investigate the ethical considerations in the situation. Research best practices for handling similar issues.

Assessment Deliverable

Create a presentation as if you were a criminal justice manager presenting to a focus group on best practices in ethical decision-making to manage various situations. Your presentation should include the following information supported by evidence from your research: 

Summarize the case that you selected and explain the ethical considerations in the situation. Describe the environmental and cultural factors involved and relevant background information.

Identify the originating causes influencing the dilemma. Determine ethical solutions for addressing these causes and preventing similar issues in the future. Summarize the protocol or process that the individual should have followed and identify any process changes since this incident. 

Explain how you would respond to the situation and how you would apply ethical decision-making strategies in a similar situation. 

Conclude with a statement about your level of confidence to make ethical decisions in a managerial role. Summarize your expectations for the ethical conduct of your team.

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#2

Leaders in criminal justice must remain up to date on administrative practices at the local, state, and federal levels. Each level and branch of criminal justice involves different administrative processes and considerations depending on the issue and the needs of the agency and the public.

Imagine that you are a team leader at an agency and have been asked to address the administration of a particular issue in criminal justice. You will investigate the issue and the administrative practices being used. As the team’s leader, determine the agency’s administrative response to such cases going forward. For this assessment, you will prepare a directive to share with your team on best practices in administration for the chosen issue.

Select one of the following criminal justice specializations at the federal, state, or local level as your focus for this assessment:

Community policing and law enforcement practices

De-escalation and use of force

Detention conditions

Alternatives to incarceration

Parole and probation

Rehabilitation and reintegration

Cybercrime

Juvenile justice

Global or international issues (e.g., border patrols, customs, FDA checkpoints, immigration/ICE, trafficking, terrorism)

Crime trends and social issues related to justice for specific populations:

Poverty 

Immigration

Mental health conditions, disabilities, and vulnerable adults

Public health (e.g., COVID-19, HIV)

Missing or exploited children

Age

Sex and gender

Race and ethnicity 

Another topic approved by your faculty member

Search the University Library and other reputable resources for current trends and policy issues related to the selected specialization. Familiarize yourself with the administrative practices and leadership decisions involved with managing these kinds of situations.

Select at least 2 cases at any level that have informed policy for the criminal justice specialty you selected.

Assessment Deliverable

Write a directive in which you analyze criminal justice administrative practices for a specific issue and recommend strategies and policies that could be applied in a federal, state, or local criminal justice organization. Include the following in your directive:

Summarize lessons learned from the administrative practices used in each selected case. Analyze the administrative strategies, practices, and policies within the cases, as well as any issues you observe (e.g., gaps in information, procedural issues): 

Describe any issues that the teams working these cases might have encountered and the impacts of those issues. 

Describe similarities and differences between the cases and compare the lessons learned from each case about administrative practices and leadership decisions. 

Explain why the outcome of each case is important for the organization to consider when developing action plans for handling this issue.

Determine a current trend in criminal justice administration related to the selected cases. Explain the extent to which the trend is influencing public policy. Predict potential issues related to the trend that might affect public policy, if any.

Explain the administrative procedures that are currently in place to address policy issues. Explain the role and duties of criminal justice leaders in establishing accountability and consistency in administrative practices.

Recommend administrative practices that would better serve the public at the selected level. Explain the potential benefit of making your recommended changes to these administrative practices. Decide how your agency should apply the recommended administrative practices and give directions to the task force on how to implement them in the future.