Article archive / February 2020
Originally published: . Volume 11, No. 2. Source pages: 14.
Jillian Peterson, PhD, Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Hamline University and co-founder of The Violence Project, will speak at the 72nd annual conference of the Louisiana Psychological Association, to be held May 8 and 9 at the Sheraton in Metairie, Louisiana. Dr. Peterson will deliver the Janet and Lee Matthews Invited Address on the opening day of the conference.
Dr. Peterson has served as special investigator in New York City, researching the psycho- social life histories of men facing the death penalty. Her research on mass shootings has been covered internationally by every major news outlet, from The Atlantic to The New York Times. She is a regular media commentator on outlets such as CBS This Morning and National Public Radio.
Dr. Peterson will speak on her work and application of results of a mass shooting database study that provides data-driven tools and methods to prevent mass violence using an evidence- based framework. She will over how to prevent violence in schools, workplaces and at public events, by understanding mass shooter profiles, warning signs and threat assessment.
She launched her career as a special investigator in New York City, researching and developing the psycho-social life histories of men facing the death penalty, which were used in their sentencing hearings. In that office she developed a saying—"the worse the crime, the worse the story". It was always true, she writes.
She has led large-scale research studies on mental illness and crime, school shooting prevention, and mass violence, which have received national media attention. Dr. Peterson is trained in restorative justice, violence mediation, crisis intervention, de-escalation, and suicide prevention.
The Violence Project is a nonpartisan think tank "dedicated to reducing violence in society and improving related policy and practice through research and analysis." The Project's co-founders research on mass shootings is funded by the National Institute of Justice. The work has received worldwide media attention. The co-founders areas of expertise include gun violence, violent extremism, cyber violence, trauma and mental illness, street gangs and youth violence.
The Louisiana Psychological Association is the state affiliate for the American Psychological Association.
Registration for this continuing education event opens in March.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.