Guest lecturers including the Sheriff of Grampian, Highlands and Islands Christine McCrossan, former Chief Constable of Police Scotland Sir Iain Livingstone QPM, criminal barrister Ian Whitehurst, and Professor Lorna Dawson, head of forensic science at the James Hutton Institute, are among those teaching on the programme, along with staff from the University of Aberdeen’s School of Law.

Marking its 35th anniversary, the summer school was initiated in 1987 by Baltimore and Aberdeen Universities, with the University of Maryland’s Francis King Carey School of Law joining a few years later.

The 2024 Summer School, which runs until August 2, will see 15 students and two academic colleagues from the USA taking part in the programme which focuses on ‘Comparative Criminal Law with Special Topics: Gun Violence, Policing & the Carceral State’; and ‘Surveillance, Technology & Forensic Evidence in Criminal Legal Systems – A Comparative Perspective’.

Dr Eliza Bechtold, a lecturer at the Law School, is the programme director this year. She said: “The Summer School seeks to provide a rich learning experience that leverages the expertise of academic colleagues on both sides of the Atlantic to help students explore some of the key legal issues of the day.

“This year’s School is even more special, marking as it does the 35th year of this valued partnership. I hope the stimulating course content and the fantastic calibre of external speakers we have secured to support our own academic colleagues makes this an interesting, informative and memorable experience for all involved.”

Teaching is delivered through a mix of classroom learning and field trips, with other highlights of the programme including a trip to Edinburgh to tour the Scottish Parliament and Parliament House, a visit to Fyvie Castle in Aberdeenshire, and a civic reception at Aberdeen Town House.

Hugh McLean, associate professor of law at the University of Baltimore, said: “Scotland and the UK are perfect for comparative analyses. Students have been studying mass incarceration in the US just as the UK considers proposals to address overcrowding in its prisons. The influence of international and human rights law on domestic law and policy is an area that is rich for exploration.”