Mass Attacks in the United States: What Do We Know and Where Do We Go From Here?

Half-day symposium co-hosted by the Illinois Academy of Criminology and Northwestern Medicine’s Isaac Ray Research Program in Behavioral Sciences and the Law

Featuring: Expert talks on the state of behavioral science regarding the known risk factors for mass attacks in public spaces and discussion of implications for research, intervention, policy, and the criminal justice system

Tuesday, December 12, 2023 | 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Northwestern University | Kellogg Wieboldt Hall

340 E. Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60611

5th Floor | Conference Room 540 (Ray Conley Lounge)

Registration for in-person attendance is now closed.

The event will be livestreamed via Zoom, so join us virtually! https://northwestern.zoom.us/j/91642929010

Meeting ID: 916 4292 901

Program Schedule
7:30 - 8:15 | Breakfast buffet, guest check-in, set up presentations. 8:15 - 8:30 | Welcoming remarks, introduction to the topic, introduction to the speakers by Posh Charles, Vice President of Community Affairs at Northwestern Medicine. 8:35 - 9:20 | Keynote Address: “Threat Assessment: A Behavior-Based Approach to Preventing Mass Attacks in Public Spaces” by Lina Alathari, PhD 9:25 - 9:50 | Expert Talk: “Psychological and Criminological Characteristics of Mass Murderers” by Robert Hanlon, PhD 9:55 - 10:20 | Expert Talk: “Strengths and limitations of behavioral science as a tool to improve the understanding of risk factors for mass violence” by Michael Brook, PhD 10:25 - 10:50 | Expert Talk: “Trauma Informed Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Strategies on the College Campus and Beyond” by Michelle Hoy-Watkins, PsyD 10:50 - 11:00 | Coffee Break 11:00 - 12:00 | Expert Panel with Drs. Alathari, Brook, Hanlon, and Hoy-Watkins, moderated by James Cavanaugh, MD 12:00 - 12:15 | Concluding remarks by Justice Anne Burke 12:15 - 1:30 | Buffet lunch and reception