PHL504 Criminal Justice Ethics (8)

The subject offers an overview of most of the central ethical issues in criminal justice ethics, such as those which arise in the exercise of discretionary authority by the police and in the processes of adjudication, prosecution and legal defence work. It provides opportunities for focused research on one or two topics of choice.

No offerings have been identified for this subject in 2020.

Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject Information

Grading System

HD/FL

Duration

One session

School

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • be able to demonstrate familiarity with the principal ethical issues that arise in the context of the criminal justice system
  • be able to articulate and assess different views on these issues in the discourse of ethical theory
  • be able to demonstrate awareness of empirical evidence relevant to the nature and solution of such ethical issues
  • be able to relate the roles of different contributors to the criminal justice system.

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:

Part I: Criminalisation 1. Civil Society: its institutions and major players 2. Crime and the limits of criminalisation 3. Constraints on government agents Part II: Policing 4. Tensions within the police role 5. The burdens of discretion 6. Coercion and deception Part III: Courts 7. Prosecutors: seeking justice through truth? 8. Defence lawyers: zealous advocacy? 9. The Impartial Judge? 10. Juries: the Lamp of Liberty? Part IV: Corrections 11. Punishment and Its Alternatives 12. Imprisonment and its Alternatives 13. The Role of correctional officers 14. Re-entry and collateral consequences

The information contained in the CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: October 2020. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.

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