Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Criminal Law (Face-to-Face)

CJ 1330-01

Course: CJ 1330-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 32398

Course Description

An examination of substantive criminal law which includes definition of law, definition of crime, general principles of criminal responsibility, elements of the principle crimes, punishments, and conditions or circumstances which may excuse the accused from criminal responsibility or mitigate punishment. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: D- .

Required Texts

Criminal Law, 12th Edition, Joel Samaha, Cengage Learning, ISBN 978-1-305-57738-7.  If you wish to use the 11th Edition (or any earlier edition) please contact me.

Learning Outcomes

- Identify the components of criminal law.

- Identify parties to crimes.

- Identify and define the elements of the major crimes against persons.

-  Identify and define the elements of the major crimes against property.

-  Identify and explain inchoate crimes.

-  Identify traditional defenses to criminal charges.

-  Identify and define the elements of the major crimes against public morality and against the state.

Course Requirements

1.  First Examination:  This multiple choice / true - false examination will cover materials presented in Days 1 through 11.  It counts as 20% of the final grade.

2.  Second Examination:  This multiple choice / true - false examination will cover materials presented in Days 13 through 27.  It counts as 20% of the final grade.

3.  Final Examination: This multiple choice / true - false examination will cover materials presented in Days 29 through 39.  It counts as 20% of the final grade.

4.  Case Brief and Presentation:

-  Students will write a one-to-two-page case brief of an appellate opinion of a criminal case.  A list of available cases and a sign-up roster will be provided separately.

-  Briefs will utilize a “F.I.R.A.C.” format, i.e. five sections which include 1- the Factual background the case, 2- the Issue presented for decision, 3- the Rule of law applied by the court, 4- the Analysis of the court, and 5-  the Conclusion the court reached.  

-  Students will conduct a three-to-five-minute presentation of their briefs in class on a date that will be identified.  Written case briefs are due at the conclusion of the in-class presentation. 

-  The brief counts for 20% of the final grade.

5.  Attendance and active class participation is essential to gain the ability to understand and apply the nuances of various criminal law theories, concepts, and principles.  To maximize the grade for this assignment, students must demonstrate consistent, timely attendance and students must actively participate in class discussions.  Consistent attendance without active participation is graded in the "B" range, i.e. from 83 - 86.  Students can expect to be called upon frequently, by name, to answer questions and to otherwise participate.

Course Outline

Day 1:  Course Orientation and Introduction – The elemental character of Criminal Law.

Day 2:  Parts of Criminal Law, Wrongs, Crimes, Sources of Criminal Law, and the Classification of Crimes.

Day 3:  Punishment of Crime.

Day 4:  The Rule of Law, Constitutionalism, Legality, and Constitutional Constraints upon the Enactment and  Enforcement of Criminal Law.

Day 5:  The Criminal Act:  Thoughts vs. Acts, Manifest Criminality, and Actus Reus.

Day 6:  The Criminal Act:  Omissions as Acts and Passive Acts.

Day 7:  Criminal State of Mind:  Mental Attitude, Mens Rea, and Specific vs. General Intent.

Day 8:  Criminal State of Mind:  Recklessness, Criminal Negligence, Simple Negligence, Strict Liability, Causation, and Ignorance/Mistake of Fact.

Day 9:  Parties to Crimes:  Complicity, Principals, Accomplices, and Accessories.

Day 10:  Parties to Crimes:  Accessories and Vicarious Liability.

Day 11:  Review for First Examination.

Day 12:  First Examination.

Day 13:  Crimes against Persons:  Common Law Murder.

Day 14:  Crimes against Persons:  Commencement and End of Life, First-Degree Murder, and Second-Degree Murder.

Day 15:  Crimes against Persons:  Second Degree Murder, Causation, and Voluntary Manslaughter.

Day 16:  Crimes against Persons:  Voluntary Manslaughter, Involuntary Manslaughter, Negligent Homicide, and Review of the 10 forms of Homicide.

Day 17:  Crimes against Persons:  Rape – Common Law, Historical Background, Contemporary Statutes.

Day 18:  Crimes against Persons:  Rape, Sexual Assault, Statutory Rape, and Simple Assault by Attempt and by Offer.

Day 19:  Crimes against Persons:  Aggravated Assault by Attempt and by Offer, Aggravated and Simple Battery, Stalking, Kidnapping, and False Imprisonment.

Day 20:  Crimes against Property:  Larceny – By Taking, by Withholding, by Trick, and Larceny of Services.

Day 21:  Crimes against Property:  Wrongful Appropriation, Robbery, Receiving Stolen Property, and Arson.

Day 22:  Crimes against Property: Malicious Mischief, Burglary, and Trespass.

Day 23:  A Day of Application – Hypotheticals applying the law of Crimes against Persons and Property.

Day 24:  Inchoate Crimes:  Attempts.

Day 25:  Inchoate Crimes:  Defenses to Attempt – Legal Impossibility, Factual Impossibility, and Abandonment; and Conspiracy.

Day 26:  Inchoate Crimes:  Conspiracy and Solicitation.

Day 27:  Review for Second Examination.

Day 28:  Second Examination.

Day 29:  Defenses:  Types of Defenses and Justification.

Day 30:  Defenses:  Justification – Self Defense.

Day 31: Defenses:  Justification – Defense of Others, Defense of Habtation, Defense of Other Property, Necessity, and Consent.

Day 32:  Defenses:  Excuse – Insanity.

Day 33:  Defenses: Excuse – Age/Infant Incapcity, Juvenile Justice Implications, and Duress/Compulsion.

Day 34:  Defenses:  Excuse – Intoxication, Mistake of Fact, and Entrapment.

Day 35:  Crimes against Public Order and Morals:  Vagrancy, Loitering, and Disorderly Conduct.

Day 36:  Crimes against Public Order and Morals:  Riot and Prostitution.

Day 37:  Crimes against the State:  Treason.

Day 38:  Crimes against the State:  Treason, Sedition, and Espionage.

Day 39:  Review for Final Examination.

Day 40:  Final Examination.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Personal accountability and responsibility are key elements of good citizenship.  The Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice seeks to inculcate these essential values in our students.  Accordingly, students are expected to meet the published deadlines for all assignments and activities.

Attendance Policy

Attendance and active class participation are essential to your ability to understand and apply the nuances of various criminal law theories, concepts, and principles.  Attendance is mandatory for all class sessions.  Roll will be taken each day.  To maximize your grade for this assignment, you must demonstrate consistent, timely attendance AND you must actively participate in class discussions.  Consistent attendance without active participation is graded in the "B" range, i.e., from 83 - 86.  You can expect to be called upon frequently, by name, to answer questions and to otherwise participate.  If you will be unable to attend a class, notify me by telephone or e-mail prior to the start of class.

Course Fees

None

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.