Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Ethical Issues in CJ (Face-to-Face)

CJ 4200-01

Course: CJ 4200-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 32417

Course Description

Ethical issues such as capital punishment, official corruption, deadly force, discretion, and deception by practitioners are critically examined. (Fall, Spring, Summer - Odd Years) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010 and CJ 2500 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: D-

Required Texts

Stevenson, B. (2014). Just mercy: A story of justice and redemption. One World.

Learning Outcomes

-Ethical Reasoning: Students will strengthen their decision-making skills and apply ethical perspectives to various questions/situations.
-Critical Thinking: Students will strengthen their critical thinking skills regarding pertinent ethical issues currently facing the criminal justice system.
-Communication: Students will strengthen their communication and writing skills through various in class and outside assignments.  While this is not a writing enhanced course, there are writing assignments that will help you express yourself through writing, as well as improve your writing skills. 

Course Requirements

Film responses (two total): 100 points
Research presentation: 100 points
Quizzes (eight total): 85 points
Attendance: 60 points
Book analysis: 50 points
Activities (four total): 40 total
Paper outline: 40 points

Course Outline

 | August 27 | Introductions Syllabus   | 
 | August 29   | Thinking about ethics  Chapter 1: Recognizing ethical decisions  | 
 | September 1 | No Class: Labor Day | No Class: Labor Day
| September 3 | Chapter 1: Recognizing ethical decisions | 
| September 5 | Chapter 1: Recognizing ethical decisions |  
 | September 8   | Chapter 2: Virtue ethics   | 
 | September 10   | Chapter 2: Virtue ethics | 
 | September 12   | Chapter 3: Formalism   |   
 | September 14  | Activity 1 due by 11:59pm   | Activity 1 due by 11:59pm  
 | September 15 | Chapter 3: Formalism   |  
 | September 17    | Chapter 3: Formalism   |  
 | September 19  | Quiz 1 (Ch. 1-3 of main text) due by 11:59pm (September 21)  No class    | Quiz 1 (Ch. 1-3 of main text) due by 11:59pm (September 21)  No class 
| September 22   | Chapter 4: Utilitarianism  |  
 | September 24   | Chapter 4: Utilitarianism |  
 | September 26 | Chapter 4: Utilitarianism        |  
 | September 28  | Film Response 1 due by 11:59pm   | Film Response 1 due by 11:59pm  
 | September 29 | Chapter 5: Crime and law    |  
 | October 1 | Chapter 5: Crime and law   |  
 | October 3 | Chapter 5: Crime and law |   
 | October 5  | Just Mercy reading quiz 1 due by 11:59pm  (Introduction-Chapter 4)   Activity 2 due by 11:59pm | Just Mercy reading quiz 1 due by 11:59pm  (Introduction-Chapter 4)  Activity 2 due by 11:59pm
| October 6 | Chapter 6: Law enforcement |  
 | October 8 | Chapter 6: Law enforcement  |  
 | October 10 | No Class-Work Day | No Class-Work Day
| October 13 | No Class-Fall Break | No Class-Fall Break
| October 15 | Ethical dilemma discussion   | Ethical dilemma discussion  
 | October 17 | Chapter 7: Courts   |   
 | October 19  | Paper Outline due by 11:59pm  Just Mercy Reading Quiz 2 due by 11:59pm  (Chapter 5-Chapter 9) | Paper Outline due by 11:59pm  Just Mercy Reading Quiz 2 due by 11:59pm  (Chapter 5-Chapter 9)
| October 20 | Chapter 7: Courts | 
| October 22   | Chapter 7: Courts   | 
 | October 24  | Quiz 2 (Ch. 4-6 of main text) due by 11:59pm (October 26)  No class   | Quiz 2 (Ch. 4-6 of main text) due by 11:59pm (October 26)  No class  
 | October 26  | Activity 3 due by 11:59pm  Film Response 2 due by 11:59pm     | Activity 3 due by 11:59pm  Film Response 2 due by 11:59pm  
 | October 27   | Chapter 8: Corrections   |  
 | October 29 | Chapter 8: Corrections |  
 | October 31 | Chapter 9: Liability  |  
 | November 2  | Activity 4 due by 11:59pm     | Activity 4 due by 11:59pm  Film Response 2 due by 11:59pm  
 | November 3   | Chapter 9: Liability  |  
 | November 5   | Chapter 10: Future ethics |  
 | November 7   | Chapter 10: Future ethics  |   
 | November 9  | Just Mercy Reading Quiz 3 due by 11:59pm  (Chapter 10-Chapter 12)   | Just Mercy Reading Quiz 3 due by 11:59pm  (Chapter 10-Chapter 12) 
| November 10   | Presentations | Presentations   
 | November 12   | Presentations | Presentations   
 | November 14  | Quiz 3 (Ch. 7-9 of main text) due by 11:59pm (November 17)  No class | Quiz 3 (Ch. 7-9 of main text) due by 11:59pm (November 17)  No class
| November 16  | Film response 3 due by 11:59pm   | Film response 3 due by 11:59pm  
 | November 17 | Presentations   |  
 | November 19  | Presentations  Just Mercy Reading Quiz 4 due by 11:59pm  (Chapter 13-end) | Just Mercy Reading Quiz 4 due by 11:59pm  (Chapter 13-end)
| November 21  | Quiz 4 (All chapters of main text) due by 11:59pm (November 23)  No class | Quiz 4 (All chapters of main text) due by 11:59pm (November 23)  No class
| November 24-November 28 | No Classes: Thanksgiving Break | No Classes: Thanksgiving Break
| December 1   | Presentations   |  
 | December 3   | Presentations   |  
 | December 5  | Book analysis due by 11:59pm  Book discussion | Book analysis due by 11:59pm

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

If you miss an assignment, make-ups will rarely be permitted. You will have ample time to complete these. If you do, however, run into an issue, you need to let me know as soon as possible. Coming to me at the end of the semester saying you forgot will not be an approved reason to make-up the assignment. In some instances, assignments may only be made up for partial credit. This will be decided on an as needed basis.
If you turn in your writing/research assignments late, you will lose 1 point per day, up until 3 days after the assignment is due.  No papers will be accepted after the 3-day period without approval by the instructor (and proper late penalties will be applied).
You are always more than welcome to turn in assignments early, and it is in your best interest to talk to me sooner rather than later regarding conflicts.

Attendance Policy

Simply coming to class will not give you full points for this portion of your grade. In order to receive the maximum number of points, you must attend AND be attentive. Therefore, each class session is worth two points. This can be achieved in multiple ways. Students are expected to show up to every class (unless you have an excused absence); students arrive on time (no more than 5 minutes after class has started unless prior notice has been given); students actively participate (providing meaningful contributions to the discussion and/or asking substantive questions); students are actively paying attention (taking notes, watching videos, refraining from being on phones/laptops constantly and for non-academic purposes); students will be professional towards and respectful of other students and myself. Those who do not meet these requirements will not receive full credit for that day’s participation grade at my discretion.
Excused absences that are not school sanctioned will give you half credit for that day’s class.

Course Fees

$12 fee

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.