Kirk Heilbrun
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.
He has contributed to forensic mental health assessment, risk communication, legal decision-making and social justice. He received the Distinguished Contributions to Psychology and Law Award from American Psychological Association.
Education
He earned his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1980. His interest in the intersection of psychology and law developed during this interdisciplinary field's formative years.Career
He began his career in applied settings, working in hospitals, clinics, and courtrooms. 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.In 2002, Heilbrun joined Drexel University, serving as department head of psychology and later the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences.
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.
Research
His research extends into social justice and racial identity, examining how cognitive biases and systemic factors influence legal evaluations.Heilbrun has also collaborated on intervention programs for individuals involved in the justice system, including the Supervision to Aid Reentry program, which employs cognitive-behavioral strategies to support the transition of formerly incarcerated individuals back into society.
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.
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.