3 different papers

1^st Assignment

I would like you watch a film, identify an ethical dilemma, and analyze it using the philosophies presented this semester. Your submission should be approximately 2-3 short paragraphs. I have also extended the deadline to give you time to watch the film, reflect on it, and write a thoughtful analysis of one ethical dilemma. Focus on one ethical dilemma and analyze it well using it two philosophies. See my examples below for help.

The film is titled Gideon’s Army.

Helpful Tips

Below I have included some questions you should ask yourself while completing the assignment. These questions and the examples I provided should help you apply different the philosophies to any number of ethical issues (and there are many) presented in the film.

Keep in mind what you learned from exams 1 and 2, and apply the philosophies by doing the following:

Identify the ethical dilemma
For example, an officer misrepresents evidence in order to help gain a conviction. When testifying, the officer claims he found evidence that tied the defendant to the crime, but after further questioning, we learn that the evidence in no way ties the defendant to the crime. By omitting key aspects of the evidence found, the officer was trying to trick the court into believing the defendant was guilty.

So I don’t give away any information on the film, for the following questions I’ll use examples from the Case Studies in Criminal Justice Ethics book.

Identify the nature of issue.
- Ask yourself: Does the dilemma focus on the end or the means? What is the goal of the action?
  - For example, in the case Convicted by DNA?, one of the characters chooses to fabricate evidence to ensure an offender is arrested. In this case, the officer is focusing on the good end his actions may produce, rather than focusing on the rightness of fabricating evidence.
  - For example, in the case My Job is to Defend the Constitution, a defense attorney learns information that could help release a violent offender whom she knows to be guilty. By not using this information, the attorney fails to due their duty. By using the information, they may be endangering others.
- Apply the philosophy that best fits the dilemma.
  - Ask yourself: Are the actions self-serving, to help the majority, duty based, or unvirtuous in nature?
    - For example, in the case Convicted by DNA?, the officer is applying utilitarianism. The officer does something that is objectively wrong to prevent harm to others. According to utilitarianism, it is morally acceptable to harm someone to maximize the net benefits. On the other hand, the fabrication of evidence erodes the trust the populous has on the justice system, which is relied on to maintain order. So in this case, a utilitarian must weigh the benefit of catching 1 offender over contributing to the erosion of justice and the consequences that follow.
    - For example, in the case My Job is to Defend the Constitution, the attorney struggles with doing their duty vs doing what they think is right. Again, here the issue is about protecting the public, but at what cost. By following the deontological approach, the attorney is required to do their duty, regardless of the consequences. If they do not, they are contributing to the erosion of justice.
  - Finally, argue an opposing view.
    - Once you’ve identified the nature of the dilemma and the philosophy the actor(s) follow, ask yourself: what an opposing philosophy would say about their actions.
      - For example, in the case Convicted by DNA?, the officer is applying utilitarian ethics to the problem. The officer does something that is objectively wrong (fabricating evidence) to prevent harm to others (by securing a conviction). According to utilitarianism, it is morally acceptable to harm someone to maximize the net However, the fabrication of evidence erodes the trust the people have in the justice system, which is relied on to maintain order. So in this case, a utilitarian must weigh the benefits of catching this 1 offender over contributing to the erosion of justice and the consequences that follow.
      - Now, let’s analyze this from the perspective of 2 other philosophies.
        
        According to deontology, the officer is required to do their duty, regardless of the consequences. In this case, the officer has a duty to uphold the law. Fabricating evidence is a violation of the law and an affront to the justice system, therefore the officer is not doing their duty. Here again, the officers actions contribute to the erosion of trust in the justice system.
        
        From a social contract perspective, as a people we tacitly give up some freedoms to allow the government to act on our behalf by creating and enforcing laws that reflect our moral standards. By fabricating evidence, the officer is violating the social contract, both as a citizen and as an agent of the government. If the citizens cannot trust the agents charged with upholding morality then the social contract breaks down.
        
        On the other hand, a hedonist may argue that the officer is right in doing what will make him happy, regardless of the harms it may cause the social order. However, as a citizen the hedonist also benefits from the protection of government. So, while initially this will make the officer happy, he must also consider the long term effects of his actions and if he is willing to accept that it may lead to his unhappiness.

2^nd Assignment

Assignment

Write a one- to two-page reaction to the documentary, The Prison in Twelve Landscapes, and include specific examples from the documentary. This submission is worth up to 25 points and must be submitted as a Word document (.doc or .docx). The points will count towards your final paper. Limit personal experience and/or anecdotes to a sentence or two. Do not include hypothetical scenarios or analogies.

**Students who submitted this assignment in another class may not resubmit the same paper. You will have to write a new reaction paper. Those who resubmit the same (or similar) paper will receive a 0 and will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct for plagiarism.**

Formatting

The reaction paper must be in a Word Document (.doc or .docx), double-spaced with 1-inch margins and black, Times New Roman, 12-point font. The paper should be written in APA style with standard, left-aligned paragraphs and include page numbers. Do not include any lists or quotes. Your first paragraph should start on the first line of the essay (no title, headers, etc.). Include a cover page with only your name, the date, and title of your essay. Each page in your document should be standard, letter size (8.5”x11”).

Please note that you will be graded on grammar, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, etc. Although this is not an English course, students are expected to write at the college-level. Off topic submissions will not be graded.

3^rd Assignment

Read about Native American Heritage month, the history of thanksgiving from the Native American perspective, or current issues in the Native American community. You may only use organizational websites or peer reviewed journal articles, not personal blogs. Then write a one- to two-page paper on what you learned.

Answer Preview…………….

Assignment 1

The right of an accused to counsel or legal representation in a criminal case is a constitutional one that should be used to protect the poor that cannot afford the cost of the services of an attorney. In the documentary, Gideon’s Army, the challenges that public defenders in the South face in the provision of the fair and adequate that suspects of criminal

APA 1527 words