Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

CJ 1340- Criminal Investigations

CJ 1340-30I

Course: CJ 1340-30I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 32401

Course Description

An analytical study of the investigative process. Duties and problems of investigating officers, crime detection, sources of information, evidence collection, crime scene investigation, use of records, preparation for trial, and an introduction to criminalistics and forensic science. (Fall, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): Intensive English Program majors may not enroll

Required Texts

Criminal Investigations Today: The Essentials, by Richard M. Hough, Sage Publications


ISBN: 9781544308005

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Recognize and identify different phases and steps within a criminal investigation; from the initial criminal complaint, to the final phase of the criminal trial.
  2. Define the major types of crimes that are typically investigated outside of the patrol function and recognize the challenges those crimes pose to criminal investigators.
  3. Identify the different parties associated within a criminal investigation; from victims and witnesses, to investigators and crime scene personnel. 
  4. Identify the processes and procedures to legally obtain evidence and identify different types of evidence used during a criminal investigation.
  5. Recognize the role of a criminal investigator within the specific crime categories and the ultimate goals of a criminal investigation

Course Requirements

Discussions


Discussion boards have multiple purposes. Because this class is online, the discussion boards serve as a way to demonstrate your “attendance” and participation. They also allow for critical thinking, sharing thoughts and opinions with your classmates and your instructor, and they allow us to incorporate current events into the course work.


Discussion boards are due by Wednesday evening at 11:59 pm (MST) each week. This is your initial post which should be a minimum of 250 words. Your responses to fellow classmates and/or myself will be due by Saturday evening at 11:59 (MST). At least two responses per discussion board are required. They must be of substantial substance, no less than 100 words.  Outside sources are encouraged to support posts but not required. If outside sources are used, make sure to cite them properly using APA format.


****You will lose (5) points if your initial post is not completed on time.  You will also be docked (5 points each missing response) points for not responding to at least 2 people's posts.  You will also lose points if your posts do not meet the minimum word requirements mentioned above.*****



Written Assignments


These are short, one to two-page papers (one page will rarely accomplish it), due at the end of each module.   Papers should be formatted with 12-point font and one-inch margins.  It is required to have at least two reputable sources cited in APA format.  The use of parenthetical citations within the body of the paper is also required.   The topic of each week’s written assignment corresponds with a subject in one of the chapters we read and discussed in that module.

***You will lose points if there are not two sources cited*****


Quizzes


Quizzes are open book, open note, but will be timed. Each quiz is 10 questions* and multiple choice. The purpose of each quiz is to give you a more thorough review of the material and main topics in each chapter.

Course Project


For this project you will write a final project paper on a criminal investigation that has been completed and is available for open-source research. You will take a deep dive into the investigation and outline all the parties involved, what their roles were, what types of crimes were investigated, the techniques used to investigate, and the final outcome of the criminal investigation. You will also include a narrative on what was done well, what could have been done better, and other opinions you may have after learning about the investigation. There is no minimum or maximum page length, but the assignment should be thorough (a 2-page paper will not be thorough enough...hint). Examples of potential investigation projects could be Nichole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, Caylee Anthony, Susan Powell, Teresa Hallbach, Odin Llyod, etc. 


Papers should be formatted with 12-point font and one-inch margins.  At least three reputable sources cited in APA format are required.  The use of parenthetical citations within the body of the paper is also required. 

Final Exam


The final exam is 50 questions. Like the quizzes, the final exam is multiple choice. The final exam will include material from the entire course.




Course Outline

Module 1: Understanding the Criminal Investigation: History, Management, and Current Practices (Quiz, Small Paper, Discussion)

Module 2: Process, Procedure and the Use of Technology and Scientists for the Investigation (Quiz, Small Paper, Discussion)

Module 3: Differing Roles and Familial Crimes (Quiz, Small Paper, Discussion)

Module 4:  Violent Crime: From Homicide and Sex Crimes to Simple Assault and Battery (Quiz, Small Paper, Discussion)

Module 5: Organized Crime (Narcotics, Gangs, Complex Crime) and Other Non-Violent Crimes (Quiz, Small Paper, Discussion)

Module 6: Law Enforcement Roles in Terrorism and Homeland Security and the Trial Phase of an Investigation (Quiz, Small Paper, Discussion)

Module 7: Final project on evaluating a case and using what the student has learned to describe what could have been done better in the investigation.
                 Final Test
                 Discussion about what the Student has learned during the session

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

No late work will be accepted except for legitimate, unforeseen emergencies. This will be a case by case basis and will not be for laziness, forgetfulness, or general life happening, but for students who have legitimate emergencies.  

If you have an emergency that will cause you to have an assignment done late, please let me know as soon as you can, preferably before the assignment is due.  I am open to allowing students extra time to complete an assignment if there is an emergency situation. This will be a case by case basis at my discretion.


Make Up Work/Extra Credit
There is no extra credit assignments available in this class.  As mentioned previously, if there is an emergency situation, I may allow for students to make up an assignment.



Attendance Policy

Attendance 

As this is an online course, your attendance will be measured by your participation and completion of course activities by their due dates/times.

Course Fees

No additional fees beyond tuition and textbook costs

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.