2024 Course Offerings
Note: Detailed syllabi will be provided as available.
Comparative Criminal Law Special Topics: Gun Violence, Policing, and the Carceral State
3 credits, taught by Prof. Hugh McClean (University of Baltimore School of Law) and TBA (University of Aberdeen)
This course will examine special topics in criminal law from a US and UK perspective. Topics will include a comparative analysis of (1) carceral institutions in the US/UK with a focus on punishment, incarceration, and rehabilitation; (2) gun violence and mass shootings; (3) and the role of police in society, with a focus on policing the mentally ill.
Students will consider each topic through a comparative lens, paying particular attention to the intersectionality of criminal law and race, gender, health, and socioeconomics. For example, during the segment on punishment, students will explore mass incarceration in the US and discuss whether the same underpinnings and causes of mass incarceration in the US are driving UK’s expanding carceral state. In the gun violence and mass shootings segments, students will discuss constitutional, statutory, and regulatory laws pertaining to guns and consider the implications of these laws on particular segments of society.
Students will consider compelling questions with respect to each topic:
Carceral State—What is the extent of the carceral problem? What are the root causes of the expanding carceral state? Should lawyers and judges play a role in reducing the incarceration, such as participating in problem-solving courts and diversion programs?
Gun violence—Is gun violence an international problem or mostly a US problem? How do firearm regulation laws differ in the US and UK? What impact do these regulations have on gun violence?
Policing—What are the biggest challenges involving policing in the US and UK? What is the proper role of police in crimes involving the mentally ill?
Surveillance, Technology, and Forensic Evidence in Criminal Legal Systems: A Comparative Perspective
3 credits, taught by Prof. Maneka Sinha (University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law) and TBA (University of Aberdeen)
This course will investigate the origins, evolution, and modern usage of surveillance methods, technology, and forensic evidence in criminal legal systems. Using United Kingdom and United States examples and case studies, students will explore a variety of legal principles and frameworks for governing and regulating use of surveillance, technology, and forensic evidence in criminal cases. Particular attention will be given to the application of surveillance methods, technology, and forensic disciplines to marginalized communities, including communities of color and poor communities.
Topics may include: (1) the origins of policing and surveillance; (2) the emergence of modern forensic disciplines; (3) the expansion of the surveillance state and modern uses of technology in criminal legal systems; (4) the impacts of law enforcement use of forensics, surveillance, and technology on communities; and (5) critiques and avenues for reform of use of surveillance, technology, and forensic evidence for criminal law purposes.