Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Introduction to Criminal Justice (Face-to-Face)

CJ 1010-03

Course: CJ 1010-03
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Political Sci Criminal Justice
CRN: 31620

Course Description

Introduces students to the purpose, function, and history of law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Overview of crime and its impact on American society. Lectures include topics such as crime and the media, causes of crime, search and seizure, probable cause, police selection and training, law enforcement as a career, court structure and function, the death penalty, prison life, and punishment. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): Intensive English Program majors may not enroll General Education Category: Social and Behavioral Science

Required Texts


CRIMINAL JUSTICE : THE SYSTEM IN PERSPECTIVE

ISBN: 9780190296445

BY BURNS, RONALD G.

PUBLISHED BY OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, INCORPORATED

PUBLICATION DATE: AUG. 16, 2021

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes will be provided by the instructor.
1.      Knowledge of the Criminal Justice System

Students will recall terminology; understand the different components of the criminal justice system as well as a basic understanding of what those components accomplish; and identify employment opportunities in criminal justice.

2.      Critical Thinking

Students will utilize information from various sources to draw conclusions.

3.      Teamwork

Students will work together to complete assignments in different areas of the criminal justice system. 

4.      Intercultural Knowledge

Students will understand the challenges their own as well as different cultures face in the criminal justice system.

Course Requirements


50% - Assigned Newspaper and Academic Essay Research and Discussion  150 points

30% - Class Participation 5 quizzes 10 points each /40 points group project

10% - Midterm 30 points

10% - Final 30 points

Course Outline


September 2               Introduction of syllabus 
September 4               Chapter 1
September 7               No Class Labor Day
September 9               Chapter 1 , News article essay #1 Due , commenced attendance due
September 11             Chapter 2
September 14             Chapter 2
September 16            “Overcoming the myth of free will” Essay #1Due
September 18             Chapter 2
September 21            “Is Crime Beneficial to Society?”  Essay #2 Due
September 23             Chapters 3
September 25             News Article # 2 Due
September 28             Use of Force
September 30             News Article # 3 Due – Assign groups
October 2                   Group Exercise
October 5                   Group Exercise
October 7                   Group Exercise
October 9                   Group Exercise
October 12                 Group Exercise
October 14                 Group Exercise
October 16                 Group Exercise
October 19                 No Class - Fall Break
October 21                 Group Exercise
October 23                 Midterm – In Canvas –No Class
October 26                 Group Exercise
October 28                 Group Exercise
October 30                 Chapter 4
November 2                Essay #3 
November 4                Chapter 4
November 6                Chapter 5
November 9               “Should Marijuana be Legalized?” Essay #4 Due
November 11              Chapter 5
November 13              Chapter 5
November 16              News Article # 4 Due
November 18              Chapter 6
November 20              Chapter 6
November 23-27          No Class - Thanksgiving Break
November 30               Essay #5 Due
December 2                 Chapter7
December 4                 News Article #5
December 7                 Chapter 8
December 9                 Chapter 8
December 11               Comparative
December 14               Review for final
December 16               Instruction Ends (Final) – In Canvas – No Class

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


Late work will only be accepted one class period after the due date and it will be penalized 50%.

Attendance Policy


Only by attendance will the student be in a position to discuss the nuances of the various theories and gain a sense of their priority. 
Points will be deducted due to absences.

Course Fees

No Fees

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.