Kansas University welcomed friends from China this week.

A group of 20 Chinese corrections officials and scholars are touring courtrooms and correctional facilities in Lawrence and the region as they learn about the U.S. criminal justice system.

“It’s an opportunity for us to demonstrate our expertise and promote some of our programs,” said Diana Carlin, dean of KU’s Graduate School and International Programs.

The visit is part of a new relationship with China’s State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, which organizes overseas training for Chinese government officials.

The group met Thursday with Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Kay McFarland and visited the Kansas Correctional Institute for Women and the Shawnee County Juvenile Detention Facility.

The visit also included a meeting with Judge G. Pierron of the Kansas Court of Appeals. During the tours, the delegation is taking in lessons on the basics of the U.S. criminal justice system, sentencing theory and practice, work-release programs, victims’ rights, juvenile justice and criminal trials.

The group today will visit the Lansing Correctional Facility before making a final stop at Douglas County Jail.

Lei Bao, who worked as a translator for the group, said the group is particularly interested in learning about juvenile justice programs.

“The Chinese government cares a lot about the future of the youth in China,” she said. “They’re here learning of youth corrections.”

Jim Peters, left, director of marketing for continuing education at Kansas University, has spent the past few days with Chinese officials and scholars who are studying the American legal system. On Wednesday, the delegation visited a courtroom at Douglas County District Court.

KU already is working on future visits from China focusing on other areas, such as social welfare programs and certified public managers. And, now that KU has hosted a criminal justice program, it’s likely that there will be similar programs on the same topic in the future, Carlin said.

She said the program helps to broadcast KU’s strengths to China and can help attract students to the university. It also strengthens KU’s ties to the community and the state, she said. And it provides a bit of revenue. KU receives $7,500 for hosting the visit.

KU joins other schools, such as the University of Missouri, the University of Maryland and Duke University, which also host State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs scholars, Carlin said.