Case Studies in Criminal Procedure
by Michael Braswell, Larry Miller, Joycelyn Pollock
Category: Political Science

Ethical conflicts rarely involve clear-cut choices. Decision making in ambiguous circumstances challenges personal values and professional ethics. The fog of politics, personal bias, and past experiences factor into the choices made. The goal of this compelling collection of cases is to stimulate reflection about the ethical dilemmas encountered in interactions. Thought-provoking case studies address police misconduct, protests and civil unrest, school resource officers, questionable prosecutorial practices, the challenges of a pandemic for prisons, the influence of politics, ethnic/gender/sexual preference bias, family conflict, immigration, perceptions of terrorism, and executing someone who may be innocent. The experiential approach presents readers with opportunities to think about decisions they might have to make as criminal justice professionals. People employed in criminal justice have a great deal of power and discretion, which can be used ethically or unethically. Introductions to the sections on law enforcement, the courts, corrections, and juvenile justice provide background for analyzing the hypothetical scenarios. Case commentaries and questions provoke discussion about potential courses of action and the consequences of various choices.