Note: As each "Ethical Dilemma" link opens in its own window, you must enable popups in your browser for this site to work properly.
|CHAPTER 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17|
Chapter 1: CORRECTIONS: AN OVERVIEW
Ethical Dilemma 1-1
Annotation: In light of tight state budgets and overcrowded prisons, should governors use their authority to provide early release to some inmates? If so, under what circumstances?
Ethical Dilemma 1-2
Annotation: You are the warden of the only medium security prison in your state. Your nephew is sentenced to serve 10 years in your institution. Using the ACA Code of Ethics as a guide, determine what ethical issues you will face.
Ethical Dilemma 1-3
Annotation: One of your fellow correctional officers accepts candy and snacks from one of the inmates. She doesn't ask for the snacks nor does she do any favors for the inmate. Should you report this activity? Would you report it? Using the ACA Code Of Ethics, determine the ethical issues if any involved in this behavior.
Chapter 2: PUNISHMENTS: A BRIEF HISTORY
Ethical Dilemma 2-1
Annotation: In the past, many corporal punishments were carried out in public, primarily to deter others. Some say the death penalty is a deterrent. Should we televise executions?
Ethical Dilemma 2-2
Annotation: The United States has engaged in various forms of corporal punishment in the past, and many countries still engage in corporal punishment. What are the issues? What types of punishment are still being used in the 21st century?
Ethical Dilemma 2-3
Annotation: Throughout history, reformers have made significant contributions to the corrections field. What current reform movement would you champion? What obstacles do you expect to encounter?
Chapter 3: SENTENCING: TO PUNISH OR TO REFORM
Ethical Dilemma 3-1
Annotation: Sentencing structures vary from state to state. Is this fair? How might we address disparities in sentencing?
Ethical Dilemma 3-2
Annotation: What's wrong with "three strikes" laws?
Ethical Dilemma 3-3
Annotation: What's right with "three strikes" laws?
Ethical Dilemma 3-4
Annotation: Our criminal justice system fails sometimes. What are the causes and remedies of wrongful convictions?
Chapter 4: DIVERSION AND PROBATION: HOW MOST OFFENDERS ARE PUNISHED
Ethical Dilemma 4-1
Annotation: Does gender or celebrity status play a role in who gets probation?
Ethical Dilemma 4-2
Annotation: How might saving money on prisons result in other social costs?
Chapter 5: INTERMEDIATE SANCTIONS: BETWEEN PROBATION AND INCARCERATION
Ethical Dilemma 5-1
Annotation: You have been victimized by an offender, causing you great personal stress. You are asked by the court to consider "intermediate sanctions" for the offender. How do you respond?
Ethical Dilemma 5-2
Ethical Dilemma 5-2a
Annotation: Some people view intermediate sanctions as an "easy out" from punishment. Do you agree? Read what two communities have done in this area.
Chapter 6: JAILS: WAY STATIONS ALONG THE JUSTICE HIGHWAY
Ethical Dilemma 6-1
Annotation: Female offenders have an average of 2.5 children. Rising numbers of incarcerated, pregnant, or parenting women being sentenced to jail have resulted in many more children being separated from their mothers. Should jail administrators concern themselves with providing services for families of jail inmates?
Ethical Dilemma 6-2 (AUDIO LINK)
Annotation: Sometimes administrators must make hard decisions when faced with budget cuts. As a jail administrator, you must cut one position, either a correctional officer or teacher. Which position will you cut?
Chapter 7: PRISONS TODAY: CHANGE STATIONS OR WAREHOUSES
Ethical Dilemma 7-1
Correctional industry programs have had a controversial past, but have been found to contribute to an offender's job training, rehabilitation, and financial responsibility. In tight budget times, should industries also bear the burden of contributing to the correctional department's financial stability? Should the primary mission be inmate job preparation or be viewed as a source of revenue?
Ethical Dilemma 7-2
Annotation: Mentally ill inmates often lack proper care in jail and prison system. What can we do to address the plight of the mentally ill in our institutions? Should a person's mental illness have any bearing on their sentencing? Incarceration?
Chapter 8: PAROLE: EARLY RELEASE AND REINTEGRATION
Ethical Dilemma 8-1
Offenders often leave prison without job skills, money or personal coping skills. Should they be released on parole? Is parole working? What can agencies do to assist parolees?
Ethical Dilemma 8-2
Annotation: A woman with young children is a repeat offender who has again violated her parole. Should she remain in the community or should she return to prison? What are the issues? Should a parolee's gender make a difference in treatment?
Chapter 9: THE STAFF WORLD: MANAGING THE PRISON ENVIRONMENT
Ethical Dilemma 9-1
Annotation: There are reports that find sexual misconduct is a problem in prisons for women. These reports state that male staff victimize women inmates. Should only female staff work in prisons for women?
Ethical Dilemma 9-2
Annotation: Stress among correctional staff is widespread and your facility has a stress-reduction program. You are feeling very stressed, but you are afraid to take advantage of the program, thinking it may reflect poorly on you at promotion time. Do you participate in the program anyway?
Chapter 10: THE INMATE WORLD: LIVING BEHIND BARS
Ethical Dilemma 10-1
Annotation: What is equal treatment when it comes to the operation of male and female prisons? Do you support a policy of equal treatment for male and female inmates? What are the current issues in the operation of a women's prison?
Ethical Dilemma 10-2
Annotation: Should women receive lighter sentences because they are more likely to be the sole caretakers of young dependent children? Should the children of incarcerated women have special visitation rights?
Chapter 11: THE LEGAL WORLD: PRISONERS' RIGHTS
Ethical Dilemma 11-1
Annotation: How much do you restrict an inmate's right to file a lawsuit when there is a legitimate problem, given the Prisoner Litigation Reform Act?
CHAPTER 12: SPECIAL PRISON POPULATIONS: THE ELDERLY, HIV/AIDS, AND THE MENTALLY CHALLENGED
Ethical Dilemma 12-1
Annotation: Aging inmates present a crisis for prison officials because of the costs of caring for them. Should states enact legislation that would allow prisons to release aging inmates prior to their sentence completion or parole eligibility?
Ethical Dilemma 12-2
Annotation: The criminal justice system can be an effective intervention point to bring addicts into treatment. How do you build a treatment infrastructure within the criminal justice system.
Chapter 13: PRISON ISSUES AND CONCERNS: SECURITY, PRIVATIZATION, TECHNOLOGY AND ACCREDIDATION
Ethical Dilemma 13-1
Annotation: Supermax prisons are a relatively new and expensive trend whose overall constitutionality is unclear. Are these institutions a fad or a wise investment?
Ethical Dilemma 13-2
Ethical Dilemma 13-2a
Annotation: Should local, state and federal institutions be privatized? Should crime pay? Do private prisons save locales money? What are the pros and cons?
Chapter 14: THE VICTIM: HELPING THOSE IN NEED
Ethical Dilemma 14-1
Annotation: If you were a victim of an assault, would you be willing to take part in a restorative justice program with your perpetrator? What are the issues that would concern you?
Ethical Dilemma 14-2
Annotation: How do you ever adequately compensate crime victims for their pain and suffering? If you were a victim of a serious crime, what would be adequate compensation?
Chapter 15: DEATH: THE ULTIMATE SANCTION
Ethical Dilemma 15-1
Annotation: The death penalty brings up powerful emotions on both sides, and it is a source of conflict for those who are not sure how they feel. Should a person's age (under 18) or mental capacity be considered when considering the death penalty?
Chapter 16: JUVENILE CORRECTIONS: END OF AN ERA
Ethical Dilemma 16-1
Annotation: Our juvenile justice system has a disproportionate number of minority inmates in custody. What role does discrimination play or is it a result of real differences in conduct? What should be done?
Ethical Dilemma 16-2
Annotation: There has been a movement to waive violent juvenile offenders to the adult system. If convicted, such offenders serve their prison sentences in adult prisons. Should young offenders under the age of 18 be housed with sophisticated adult offenders?
Chapter 17: PROFESSIONALISM IN CORRECTIONS
Ethical Dilemma 17-1
Annotation: Why do corrections officers need a code of ethics that is somewhat distinct from that of traditional law enforcement officers? How do the ethical challenges of being a uniformed police officer compare with those of being a corrections officer? What are some of the ethical challenges that confront correctioins officers that are not generally a concern for uniformed police?
Ethical Dilemma 17-2
Annotation: In what way does the job of corrections officer require more professionalsim than it did fifty years ago? What can be done to help
foster more professionalism within the ranks of corrections officers??
Problems with this page? Please tell firstname.lastname@example.org
Last Modified on February 1, 2010 Fifth Edition
Copyright 2010 by Frank Schmalleger, Ph.D. and John O. Smylka
All Rights Reserved.