Southern New Hampshire University
CJ 230: Discretion in Criminal Justice
Module 2 Notes
Decision-Making Process and Discretion
To be a critical thinker, what types of questions should be asked?
1. What information am I using?
2. What information do I need to settle the question?
3. Is there another way to interpret the information?
4. What assumption has led me to my conclusion?
5. Is there another point of view I should consider?
6. What implication or consequence might be the result of this conclusion?
What are the steps of the decision-making process when analyzing an ethical dilemma in
criminal justice?
1. Identify the facts. Make sure that one has all the facts that are known- not future
predictions, not suppositions, not probabilities.
2. Identify relevant values and concepts. Concepts are things that cannot be proven
empirically but are relevant to the issue at hand.
3. Identify all possible dilemmas and then decide what is the most immediate
dilemma. Identifying all dilemmas can help us see that sometimes one’s own
moral or ethical dilemma is caused by other’s actions.
4. Decide what is the most immediate moral or ethical issue facing the individual.
5. Resolve the ethical or moral dilemma by using an ethical system or some other
means of decision making.
What are the two different missions of law enforcement in a democracy?
The two different missions of law enforcement in a democracy are to protect the public
from crime and violence, and to uphold the law and ensure that everyone is treated fairly.
In a democracy, law enforcement is accountable to the people. This accountability helps
to ensure that law enforcement is just and fair.
