Morality Stories: Dilemmas in Ethics, Crime & Justice, 2nd Edition

by Michael C. Braswell, Joycelyn M. Pollock

What are we willing to sacrifice for the welfare of others? Can we face the suffering we have both given and received? Is there room for mercy in the heart of justice? These and other questions related to the moral depth and ethical inclination of the human condition are explored in the twelve original short stories that complete this book. Morality Stories encompasses personal, social and criminal justice themes and dilemmas, such as Death Row, homelessness and prejudice. In each story, persons are judged as much by the good they omitted to do as by the bad actions they chose to carry out. Acknowledging regrets, expressing remorse and accepting responsibility are demonstrated in many of the stories as a means of moving toward moral courage and decision-making. This new edition includes six new stories with discussion questions which address such themes as the politics of justice and drug abuse in a personal context; a crisis of cultural differences along the Mexican border; the restorative possibilities for an older ex-con; the politics of war; and the consequences of telling the truth. " Morality Stories holds a real fascination for persons concerned with good and evil. The book's moral is 'An evil act doesn't necessarily make a person who committed it evil...'" ― Gilbert Geis, University of California at Irvine "The authors, including the work of Scott Braswell in this volume, have once again produced an exemplary tool for ethical pedagogy in Morality Stories … [This book] is a well-done and valuable contribution to the literature of criminal justice and criminology… The book will serve as an excellent companion volume to a primary ethics textbook for the undergraduate, the graduate, or even the doctoral course in ethics." ― International Criminal Justice Review, September 2008

208 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2007

About the author

Michael has published more than 20 books, including "Remembering Peleliu and other World War II Stories,"Long Road Home" (with Richard Zevitz), "Morality Stories" (with Joy Pollock and Scott Braswell) and "Justice, Crime and Ethics" (with Bernard and Belinda McCarthy). His writing has focused on peacemaking and justice issues as well as the spiritual journey. His publications include two novels and two short story collections.


A former prison psychologist, Michael Braswell has also earned four degrees in psychology and counseling from Mercer University, the State University of West Georgia, the University of Georgia and a PhD from the University of Southern Mississippi.


Michael taught criminal justice ethics and human relations for more than thirty years, and is currently Professor Emeritus at East Tennessee State University.



Married for more than 40 years, he and his wife, Susan, work together as publishing consultants and are active in their church.