Ethical Dilemma Worksheet
Incident Review
1. What is the ethical issue or problem? Identify the issue succinctly.
The ethical issue is that husband has been convicted but since he went to war he has the capacity of a ten year old and may digress further if he is locked up for longer than a short period of time.
2. What are the most important facts? Which facts have the most bearing on the ethical decision presented? Include any important potential economic, social, or political pressures, and exclude inconsequential facts.
The husband was found guilty and has been convicted. He will further digress if locked up and can thus become a further burden on the criminal justice system because he may get violent.
3. Identify each claimant (key actor) who has an interest in the outcome of this ethical issue. From the perspective of the moral agent—the individual contemplating an ethical course of action—what obligation is owed to the claimant? Why?
Claimant
(key actor)
Obligation (owed to the claimant)
Perspective (What does the claimant hope will happen?)
The husband
Right to fair treatment and
The husband hopes that he will get off without any jail time.
The Probation officer
Correctly do his job and uphold the justice system rules.
He hopes that he will make a fair decision in regards to the sentencing of the husband.
Society
The right to keep citizens safe from criminals.
The husband will receive the right punishment and he will learn his lesson about drinking and driving.
Evaluating Alternatives
4. What are two alternatives for the scenario? One alternative can be a wild card that you ordinarily may not consider an option because of potential implications. Both should be within free will and control of the same moral agent.
Alternative A
Alternative B
The husband gets has to spend the 90 days in jails.
The husband is sentenced to home confinement and has