Discussion Questions

  1. Given Kant’s categorical imperatives, what role would discretion have in the criminal justice system? Provide examples from law enforcement, court, and correctional settings.
  2. Thinking back to Chapter 8 on terrorism, how might our response to terrorism “look” if we used Kant’s theory to guide our actions?
  3. Consider the Discussion Case (p. 272). Identify the various times in the scenario where, had different decisions been made, the situation might have been handled differently. Is explaining this scenario from a deontological perspective the best way to address the ethical dilemma? Why or why not? What would you have done if you were the rookie officer? What if you were the veteran officer?