Ethics, Crime, and Criminal Justice, 2nd edition

Description

For use as a primary text in undergraduate courses in criminal justice, criminology, and justice studies programs that confront moral and ethical dimensions (e.g., “Criminal Justice Ethics,” “Morality in Criminal Justice”). This text may also be of value for graduate courses in these areas.

This comprehensive, provocative text meaningfully examines ethical theories and their application to current issues, controversies, and professional scenarios in law, crime, and justice. It introduces students to the foundations of the study of ethics and morality; examines prominent moral and ethical themes, conflicts, and struggles in criminology and criminal justice; and explores the conceptual and practical value of key ethical concepts, principles, and arguments. This edition is extensively updated and revised for greater clarity, cohesiveness, and accessibility. An all-new chapter demonstrates practical application of normative frameworks to ethical dilemmas, and another largely new chapter introduces game theory, evolutionary psychology, and related concepts. Readers will find expanded discussions of social contract, cognitive neuroscience, Carol Gilligan’s ethic of care, and much more.

Familiarizes students with crucial ethical concepts—including “good,” “right,” “just,” “freedom,” “choice,” “obligation,” “duty,” and “virtue”

• Gives students a strong foundation for understanding how core ethical concepts can inform moral reasoning and decision-making in criminal justice settings

Integrative approach—showcases concrete issues and practical dilemmas more effectively, while providing immediately relevant conceptual context

• Helps students link real issues to theoretical concepts, and learn more effectively – without having to refer back to conceptual coverage elsewhere in the text 

Comprehensive overview of ethical concepts, principles, and theories—thoroughly introducing the foundations of ethical thinking, and clarifying theirrelevance to crime, law, and criminal justice

• Prepares students to consider the problems and concerns of criminal justice more critically and thoughtfully

Emphasis on reason and critical thinking skills throughout—challenging students to overcome common obstacles to good ethical thinking and to approach ethical issues and moral dilemmas through critical reflection and the use of conceptual ethical “tools”

• Helps students understand why reasoning and critical thinking skills are so important to effective critical thinking, and guides them in developing and applying these skills

Generous treatment of metaethical and moral psychological concerns—including several chapters addressing free will and determinism, relativism, self-interest, moral motivation and development, and their significance to issues of crime, law, and justice

• Thoroughly addresses crucial issues that are often ignored or given only cursory coverage in texts on ethics and criminal justice 

Contemporary issues, controversies, and “real life” cases and scenarios—maximizes relevance to criminology, criminal justice, and justice studies

• Designed to interest anyone concerned with the study of law, crime, or justice from any standpoint -- from policing, courts, and corrections to policymaking 

Numerous pedagogical features—including lists of key terms, chapter summaries, review and discussion questions, illustrations, examples and counterexamples, boxed inserts, and more

• Systematically designed to maximize relevance, promote comprehension, and encourage critical thinking

• Helps students apply normative frameworks to the real-world ethical issues and dilemmas they may encounter  

New! Contains more than 20 new case studies, examples, and inserts—ranging from no-knock warrants and statutory rape to the cases of Susan Smith and Andrea Yates; honor killings and incest to John Rawls’ theory of justice

• Improves relevance, engaging students with the implications of ideas and cases they may already have encountered 

New! Engaging case studies or examples open every chapter—generating critical thinking and discussion

• Links discussions of ethical theory with real world issues, promoting deeper thought and exploration

• Introduces students to many of today’s most provocative new scientific insights

• Helps students understand the moral and ethical implications of the latest brain research

• Introduces students to Gilligan’s theory about what makes actions right or wrong – one of the 20th century’s most significant new normative ethical theories  

Expanded! More thorough discussion of the social contract—linking it to human nature, social cooperation, and the question of justice (including Rawls’ theory)

• Gives students a more sophisticated and contemporary understanding of social contract theory and its implications for crime and justice