Units
Social Ethics and the Justice System
Unit code: JSB175
Contact hours: 3
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
It is essential for those employed within the justice system be able to competently and confidently work at the borders between ethics and the law. Ethical ability will enable practitioners to critically assess the moral status of current laws, to interpret acceptable standards of behaviour in situations not covered by the laws, and to develop shared understandings of moral responsibility in justice organizations and the wider community.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 1 | Yes |
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
It is essential for those employed within the justice system be able to competently and confidently work at the borders between ethics and the law. Ethical ability will enable practitioners to critically assess the moral status of current laws, to interpret acceptable standards of behaviour in situations not covered by the laws, and to develop shared understandings of moral responsibility in justice organizations and the wider community.
Aims
This unit will introduce ethical theory and practice from a justice system perspective. Various approaches to social ethics will be discussed. Ethical issues will be tracked through the phases of the justice process: the nature of the just society, ethics and the law, ethics and law enforcement, ethics in the courts, ethics in the legal profession, and the ethics of punishment and correction. The role of codes of ethics and ethics in organizations will also be discussed.
Objectives
On completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Understand the various theoretical approaches to ethics (which addresses the graduate attribute of discipline knowledge);
2. Apply these understandings to issues in the justice process (this addresses the graduate attribute of ethical orientation);
3. Demonstrate an ability to investigate, discuss, and analyse current ethical issues in criminal justice (this addresses the graduate attributes of critical thinking);
4. Appreciate the diverse nature of ethical systems across cultures (this addresses the graduate attributes of Indigenous perspectives and appreciating difference and diversity);
5. Outline strategies for detecting and resolving ethical dilemmas ( this addresses the graduate attribute of problem solving).
Content
1. Unit introduction and rationale. What is ethics?
2. Ethical Theory: Deontology, consequentialism, virtue ethics and egoism
3. Critical Thinking and Ethical Argument. How to evaluate a theory/perspective: Solving ethical dilemmas.
4. Ethics in Public Life
5. Justice Issues: Terrorism, policing and punishment
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
Internal students:
You will attend one lecture (of one hours' duration) over 10 of the weeks, and one tutorial (of one hours' duration) every week. The first tutorial will be held in week 3.
The lecture format will involve direct instruction from the lecturer, interactive discussion, some video presentations and addresses by guest lecturers. Tutorials will involve discussion based on issues raised in the lectures and readings, and participation in additional exercises and activities aimed at raising ethical awareness. We will try to make the lectures as interactive as possible but, with the large number of students enrolled in this unit, the main forum for interchange of ideas and viewpoints will be the tutorial sessions.
You will have access to the JSB175 Study Guide via the QUT Blackboard site and are required to access the activities for each tutorial session, prior to attending the tutorial.
External students:
You should complete the readings from both the CMD and Windows each week prior to contributing to the compulsory graded online reflective journal each week. You should also visit the Blackboard site regularly to access online resources and to keep in contact with the unit coordinator You will also participate in an online discussion forum on the Blackboard site.
Assessment
Assessment items for this unit may be formative and summative.Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:
Assessment name:
Essay
Description:
The topic for this piece of assessment will be given out in week 2, and must be handed in by Friday of week 13 . You are required to write a 2000 word essay analysing the set topic using one of the theories studied in weeks 1 through 5.
This assessment is formative and summative and addresses objectives 1, 2, 3 and 5. It assesses the graduate attributes of ethical awareness, critical thinking, written and verbal communication, and problem solving.
Relates to objectives:
1 and 5.
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Both
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 9
Assessment name:
Exam
Description:
A multiple choice exam will be given during the end of semester central exam period.
This assessment is summative and addresses objectives 1, 2, 4 and 5 and assesses the graduate attributes of ethical awareness, critical thinking, and problem solving.
Relates to objectives:
2, 4 and 5.
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Both
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Exam period
Assessment name:
Tutorial Activities - Internal
Description:
During each internal tutorial session (which start in Week 3 of semester), tutors will assess students participation in a program of discussions and activities. Discussions will focus on the lecture material and readings from the previous week. Activities will be interactive and require group work each week. Students are also required to give a ten minute presentation in class on a topic to be allocated in the first tutorial.
Relates to objectives:
This assessment is formative and summative and addresses objectives 1, 2 and 3. It assesses the graduate attributes of ethical awareness, critical thinking, written and verbal communication, and problem solving.
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Throughout
Assessment name:
Discussion Forum
Description:
Discussion Forum and PowerPoint Presentation
External students are required to participate in a weekly online discussion forum on the Blackboard site, focussing on material from the study guide and readings for each week. You must post a comment each week of at least 50 words to receive a mark. You may make comments about ethical issues in the media, your personal life, or the Study Guide. You are also required to prepare a powerpoint presentation on one of the topics in the Study Guide activity boxes from weeks 3-12 and upload it to the blackboard site.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2 and 3. This piece of assessment is both formative and summative and assesses the graduate attributes of ethical awareness, critical thinking, written and verbal communication, and problem solving.
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
External
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Weekly from Week 2
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
There is no required text for this unit.
Other Resources:
Hayes, S. The Window: A fictional learning tool for JSB175 (available on QUT Blackboard)
JSB175 Study Guide must be accessed on Blackboard.
Additional weekly readings will also be available through the Course Materials Database.
Risk assessment statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 22-Feb-2013
