Identify the precise moral question to be answered, and Apply ethical principles to the moral question based on an objective evaluation of the facts, only then drawing a conclusion.

Aristotle asserted that ethical decision making is achieved consistently only through practice. Given the outline of virtue ethics provided by Aristotle (i.e., seeking the real goods via the moral virtues), evaluate the moral permissibility of an incident that has received media exposure as ethically suspect. The incident does not have to be in the field of criminal justice. It can be from the business world, medical field, government, etc.

A critical thinking exercise such as this requires the ability to evaluate viewpoints, facts, and behaviors objectively to assess information or methods of argumentation to establish the true worth or merit of an act or course of conduct. Evaluate your incident, first analyzing pros and cons of alternate views, before you come to a conclusion. Do not draw a conclusion first, and then try to find facts to support it—this frequently leads to narrow (and incorrect) thinking.

To properly evaluate the moral permissibility of a course of action using critical thinking skills –

Begin with an open mind (no preconceptions!),
Isolate and evaluate the relevant facts of the incident on both sides,
Identify the precise moral question to be answered, and
Apply ethical principles to the moral question based on an objective evaluation of the facts, only then drawing a conclusion.