Kirk Heilbrun

Kirk Heilbrun
NationalityAmerican
CitizenshipUnited States
Alma mater
Scientific career
Fields
Institutions

Kirk Heilbrun is a psychologist and professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Drexel University known for his research in the intersection of law and psychology.[1]

He has contributed to forensic mental health assessment, risk communication, legal decision-making and social justice.[2] He received the Distinguished Contributions to Psychology and Law Award from American Psychological Association.[3]

Education

He earned his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1980.[4] His interest in the intersection of psychology and law developed during this interdisciplinary field's formative years.[5]

Career

He began his career in applied settings, working in hospitals, clinics, and courtrooms.[6] In 1995, he joined MCP Hahnemann University as a professor and co-director of the Law-Psychology Program. During this period, he also held a position as a lecturer in law at Villanova School of Law.[7]

In 2002, Heilbrun joined Drexel University, serving as department head of psychology and later the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences.[2]

Earlier in his career, he held appointments at institutions, including the Medical College of Virginia, Florida State University, and the Florida Mental Health Institute at the University of South Florida. [8]

Research

His research extends into social justice and racial identity, examining how cognitive biases and systemic factors influence legal evaluations.[9]

Heilbrun has also collaborated on intervention programs for individuals involved in the justice system, including the Supervision to Aid Reentry (STAR) program, which employs cognitive-behavioral strategies to support the transition of formerly incarcerated individuals back into society. [10]

His scholarly commentary explores ethical and methodological challenges in forensic psychology, tackling topics such as the misuse of labels like psychopathy and the impact of situational variables on behavior prediction.[11]

He highlights that while most defendants respond to treatments like antipsychotic medication within six months, a subset does not, due to factors such as medication ineffectiveness, inappropriate dosages, or psychological factors like exaggerating symptom.[12]

Selected publications

Books

  • Heilbrun, Kirk; Greene, Edith; Douglass, Amy (2024). Wrightsman's psychology and the legal system (10th ed.). Boston: Cengage. ISBN 978-0-357-79746-4.
  • Heilbrun, Kirk; Wright, Jean; Giallella, Christy; DeMatteo, David (2021). University and public behavioral health organization collaboration: Models for success in justice contexts. New York: Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-005285-0.
  • Heilbrun, Kirk (2009). Evaluation for risk of violence in adults. Best practices in forensic mental health assessment. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-536981-6.
  • Heilbrun, Kirk; DeMatteo, David; King, Christopher; Filone, Sarah (2017). Evaluating juvenile transfer and disposition: law, science, and practice. International perspectives on forensic mental health. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-138-95795-4.
  • Heilbrun, Kirk; Grisso, Thomas; Goldstein, Alan M. (2009). Foundations of forensic mental health assessment. Best practices in forensic mental health assessment. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-532309-2.
  • Heilbrun, Kirk; DeMatteo, Dave; Brooks Holliday, Stephanie; LaDuke, Casey (2014). Forensic mental health assessment: a casebook (2nd ed.). Oxford ; New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-994155-1.
  • Heilbrun, Kirk (2001). Principles of forensic mental health assessment. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Press. ISBN 0-306-46538-8.
  • Heilbrun, Kirk; Edith, Greene (March 5, 2018). MindTap Psychology, 1 term (6 months) Printed Access Card for Greene/Heilbrun's Wrightsman's Psychology and the Legal System, 9th (9th ed.). Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-1337570909.

Journals

References

  1. ^ Clayworth, Tony Leys and Jason. "Psychologist defends State Boys School seclusion practices as testimony ends in federal trial". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Psychology Professor Kirk Heilbrun Named Drexel Ombuds". drexel.edu. January 16, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  3. ^ "Division 1 (The Society for General Psychology and Interdisciplinary Inquiry)". www.apa.org.
  4. ^ "Clinical Assessment Webinar Series | Buros Center for Testing | Nebraska". buros.org. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  5. ^ "PD&A Expert Spotlight: Dr Kirk Heilbrun". Park Dietz and Associates Forensic Experts and Consultants. February 25, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  6. ^ Scott, Shane (April 24, 2016). "An Amateur vs. ISIS: A Car Salesman Investigates and Ends Up in Prison". The New York Times.
  7. ^ "Buros | Kirk Heilbrun, PhD - Drexel University". ulearn.unl.edu. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  8. ^ "Kirk Heilbrun, PhD". College of Arts and Sciences. August 22, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  9. ^ Heilbrun, Kirk; Kavanaugh, Antoinette; Grisso, Thomas; Anumba, Natalie; Dvoskin, Joel; Golding, Stephen (October 12, 2021). "The Importance of Racial Identity in Forensic Mental Health Assessment". Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online. 49 (4): 478–487. doi:10.29158/JAAPL.210099-21 (inactive December 17, 2024). ISSN 1093-6793. PMID 34642206.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of December 2024 (link)
  10. ^ "Heilbrun Research Lab". College of Arts and Sciences. July 21, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  11. ^ Calkins, Eric Poole. "Teen murder suspect's fate to be decided soon". Beaver County Times. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  12. ^ Nakamura, David. "Loughner ruling creates potential obstacles on path to trial in Arizona shootings". Washington Post.