Ethics and Criminal Justice
Ethical Application Paper
Requirements:
Word docum
Ethics and Criminal Justice
Ethical Application Paper
Requirements:
Word document
5 pages, double spaced
Page numbers
Instructions:
Think about an important ethical dilemma you have faced in your life (or one you are currently
facing) that you are willing to share with your professor. Make sure your decision has ethical
implications and is not just what Kant would consider a “matter of taste.” Write an essay
wherein you apply the ethical theories we have covered this semester to your decision and
analyze the ethics of the situation/decision.
Guidelines:
1. Describe the situation/decision clearly. Describe the facts/circumstances and the parties
involved (feel free to use pseudonyms). First person is appropriate for writing this
assignment since you are describing your own personal situation and applying theories to it
(trying to avoid first person here would actually make the writing worse/more awkward for
this assignment).
2. Provide a brief summary of the ethical theories before you apply them to your situation. This
should be brief. The majority of your paper should involve applying class material, not
describing it.
3. The theories you should apply include: deontology, utilitarianism, virtue ethics, egoism, and
ethics of care.
a. Make sure you are appropriately and thoroughly applying the ethical theories to your
situation/decision. Most of your grade will comprise how precise and detailed your
theoretical applications are.
b. Use the necessary and important class concepts (categorial imperative, golden mean,
etc.).
c. Flesh out your applications. Your applications should demonstrate that you clearly
understand the concepts you are applying.
d. You do not need to apply or discussion the theories’ perspective on punishment.
Punishment is a state function and as an individual decision-maker, goals of
punishment are not relevant.
4. Conclude your paper with an analysis of the decision you made (or the one you are going to
make) in light of your applications. What was/is the right/ethical thing to do in your
situation? Did you make the right decision? Why or why not?
