You are a retired law enforcement officer who now teaches at a local community college in the criminal justice program. In addition to teaching ethics, you write crime novels on the side. You recently heard of a real-life case that you thought would make the basis for a good story, but, as you looked into it further, you realized that it provided many opportunities for educating students and criminal justice professionals on ethics. You decide to write a paper for possible publication in a journal.
To research this case, you have obtained a copy of the police investigative file, reviewed media accounts of the case, and interviewed witnesses, members of the criminal justice system who were involved in the case and other criminal justice professionals not directly connected with the case. As part of the preparation for writing your paper, you will organize your notes, outline your ideas for the themes for the paper, and identify the ethical dilemmas presented in the case. You anticipate as you work on this project that you will have to do substantial research to make this paper worthy for publication in an academic journal.
THE CRIME
Details from the police report:
On July 27, 2007, Lois Murphy was found dead on the floor of her garage, a victim of an apparent homicide. She was discovered by her brother, James Murphy, who had come to her residence to check on her after being unable to reach her for three days. James immediately called 911 to report the discovery.
MPD conducted a comprehensive crime scene investigation, including photographing and videotaping the crime scene, collecting physical evidence, and gathering fingerprint evidence. The MPD classified the case as a homicide. Following the initial crime scene investigation, MPD detectives conducted an extensive investigation, interviewing many witnesses and following all credible leads.
Although there were multiple signs of blunt wound trauma around the head and face, according to the Metropolis County Medical Examiner, the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest. The ME listed the cause of death as homicide.
The MPD eventually arrested William Tanner on suspicion of murder. The evidence indicates that the crime was motivated by an unpaid debt for drugs.
The crime occurred in the city and county of Metropolis.
Assignment: Prepare a 1-2 page paper in which you analyze this crime that was presented last week for your Ethics Project. Use each of the four approaches to explaining criminal behavior ethical theories; classical, positivist, structural, and ethical. Discuss the morality of the act of homicide using the ethical framework.
How would you like us to help you with this assignment?
I am very confused on what they are wanting us to do? I don't get how they want us to approach to explain criminal behaviot for the ehthical theories for the reading. Please help..:)
First go back and study the four approaches to explaining criminal behavior. Take notes on each.
Then discuss the morality of this homicide from each of these points of view. How would advocates of each theory explain this crime?
To prepare your paper analyzing the crime and the ethical dilemmas presented, you will need to follow these steps:
1. Review the police investigative file: Start by thoroughly examining the police investigative file that you obtained. This file will contain crucial information about the details of the crime scene, the evidence collected, and the initial interviews conducted by the MPD. Pay close attention to any inconsistencies or gaps in the evidence.
2. Review media accounts: Read through various media accounts of the case to gather additional information and perspectives. Look for any biases or sensationalism in the reporting, as these can influence public perception and understanding of the case.
3. Interview witnesses and criminal justice professionals: Reach out to witnesses who were present at the crime scene or have relevant information about the case. Additionally, connect with members of the criminal justice system who were involved in investigating the case. This can include police officers, detectives, prosecutors, and defense attorneys. Finally, interview other criminal justice professionals who can offer an objective viewpoint and expertise on ethics in criminal justice.
4. Organize your notes: Once you have gathered all the necessary information, organize your notes in a systematic manner. This could involve creating a detailed timeline of events, listing key pieces of evidence, and noting any ethical dilemmas that arise from the case.
5. Outline the themes for your paper: Identify the main themes or topics that you want to cover in your paper. Since this paper will focus on ethics, consider exploring the ethical dilemmas faced by the individuals involved, the moral implications of homicide, and the various ethical theories that can be applied to criminal behavior.
6. Identify ethical dilemmas: As you review the information, identify and analyze the ethical dilemmas presented in the case. For example, you may explore issues such as the obligation of the criminal justice system to seek justice for victims, the responsible use of investigative techniques, or the impact of societal factors on criminal behavior. Use each of the four approaches to explaining criminal behavior ethical theories (classical, positivist, structural, and ethical) to guide your analysis.
7. Research extensively: To ensure that your paper is worthy of publication in an academic journal, conduct extensive research to support your arguments and analysis. Explore relevant scholarly articles, books, and case studies that discuss ethics in criminal justice, ethical theories, and the specific ethical dilemmas faced in similar cases.
8. Write your paper: Based on your research and analysis, start writing your paper. Follow the standard structure for a scholarly article, which typically includes an introduction, literature review, methodology, analysis, and conclusion. Make sure to present your arguments clearly, provide examples and evidence to support your claims, and critically evaluate the ethical implications of the case.
Remember to adhere to proper citation guidelines and include a list of references at the end of your paper. Proofread your work carefully for grammar, clarity, and coherence before finalizing it for submission.
By following these steps, you will be able to effectively organize your research and produce a well-rounded and informative paper that addresses the ethical dilemmas presented in the case.