Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Ethical Issues in CJ (Online)

CJ 4200-30I

Course: CJ 4200-30I
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 12444

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

Law Enforcement Ethics: Classic and Contemporary Issues

Fitch, Brian D

ISBN-13: 978-1452258171
ISBN-10: 1452258171

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Identify ethical foundations to include developing a code of ethics, how ethics is trained for criminal justice professionals, and how supervisors can help to develop ethical professionals within an organization.
2. Apply theoretical approaches to ethical issues and how evidence-based approaches to mental wellness allows for better ethical decision making. 
3. Identify ethics in action through current ethical issues and challenges within the criminal justice system.
4. Interpret the importance of ethical behaviors outside of the profession and how unethical actions in private spill over to ethical dilemmas within criminal justice agencies

Course Requirements

Discussion Boards


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 the ability to incorporate current events into the course work.

Initial discussion board posts for two-week modules are due by the first Sunday night of that module at 11:59 pm (MST) each week. This initial post should be a minimum of 250 words. Responses to fellow classmates and/or the Instructor will be due by the second Sunday night of the same module at 11:59 (MST). For the final module (one week module), the initial post is due by Wednesday night at 11:59 pm (MST) with the two responses due by Sunday night at 11:59 pm (MST).

At least two responses per discussion board are required. They must be of substantial substance, no less than 100 words. Each week, it is required to have at least one source referenced and cited in APA format.  The reference can be in the initial post, or it can be in one of the two responses to other students and/or the Instructor. The use of parenthetical citations within the post is also required.

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 read and discussed in that module.

Scenario Based Assignments


These assignments are short responses to ethical issues presented in real life scenario based applications. Each module has two scenarios for response. Each response should be a minimum of a couple paragraphs that show critical thinking and response to the scenarios presented. As an option, these assignments can also be dictated and recorded for submission.  

Course Project


For this project, the student will research past corruption within a police agency. The student will need to show what the corruption was, how it developed, how it was revealed, and what has been done to rectify the corruption after it was discovered. This project will require at least 3 reputable references with 3-5 pages of written text.

Papers should be formatted with 12-point font and one-inch margins.


Course Outline

Module #1 Ethical Foundations(2 Week Module)

-Introductions
-Read Chapters 1-5
-Code of Ethics for LE Agencies
-Teaching Ethics to Police Officers
-Scenario Based Assignment Part #1
-Misconduct Identified
-Supervision and Ethical Agencies

Module #2 Ethical Perspectives Overview(2 Week Module)

-Read Chapters 6-10
-An Officers Will
-Evidence Based Solutions
-Scenario Based Assignment Part #2
-Reform Efforts
-Social Learning Theory

Module #3 Ethical Professionalism(2 Week Module)

-Read Chapters 11-14
-Duty to Intervene
-Racial Profiling or Something Else?
-Scenario Based Assignment Part #3
-How to Create a Fair and Ethical Promotional Exam
-Skating Miranda

Module #4 Ethical Challenges(1 Week Module)

-Read Chapters 17-18
-Off Duty Conduct...or Misconduct
-Social Media, the Public, and the Police
-Scenario Based Assignment Part #4
-Final Project

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

Generally speaking, late work will not be accepted.  However, I will consider working with students on a case by case basis depending on the circumstances.  

Attendance Policy

Taking an online course requires you, as the learner, to stay up-to-date with the assignment due dates, log into the course multiple times per week, check announcements, etc. By staying up-to-date in the course, you will avoid feeling overwhelmed if you miss an assignment.

Course Fees

You can view all of SUU's program and course fees at the Registrars homepage. 

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.