The Hamline Center for Justice and Law presents Mass Shootings: Pathways to Prevention

For the past year, Dr. Jillian Peterson and Dr. James Densley have been leading a research study on mass shooters with a team of Hamline University students. They have created a database of 150 mass shooters coded on 50 life history variables, which has received international media attention.

This event is the first public report of the findings from this mass shooter database project including answers to public policy questions about mass shootings and mental illness, gun access, social media,and warning signs. The results have implications for new, innovative, evidence-based prevention strategies for schools, workplaces, and public events.

Recently, Dr. Peterson and Dr. Densley received a $300,000.00 grant from the National Institute of Justice to continue this project.  In the next phase of the study, the research team will create a database of community level risk factors, conduct interviews with living mass shooters across the country, and conduct interviews in the communities where shootings occur.

Join us on Friday, November 9th from 4:30 – 6:30 pm in the Hamline University Klas Center (1537 W Taylor Avenue) - 3rd Floor Kay Fredricks room.

Check in begins at 4:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served.

This event is approved for 2 hours of continuing education credit by the Minnesota Board of Social Work, the Minnesota Board of Continuing Legal Education, and the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training

Speakers:

James Densley, Ph.D. is an associate professor of criminal justice at Metropolitan State University.  Dr. Densley has a doctoral degree in sociology from Oxford University.  Dr. Densley has received local, national, and international media attention for his work on street gangs, criminal networks, violence, and policing.

Jillian Peterson, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of criminal justice at Hamline University and the director of the Hamline Center for Justice and Law.  Dr. Peterson has a doctoral degree in psychology and social behavior from the University of California, Irvine. Her areas of expertise include violent crime, mass violence, crisis intervention, forensic psychology, and evidence-based policy.

Agenda:

4:30: An overview of mass shootings and trends over time

5:00: Results from the mass violence database project including

mental illness, trauma, gun access, social media, and suicidality

5:45: Implications for evidence-based prevention strategies

6:00: Discussion, questions, future research, and plans for action