Animal Maltreatment

Lacey Levitt, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist who completed specialized forensic training at the University of Virginia's Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy and the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She was one of the key researchers involved in the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit's Criminal Histories of Animal Cruelty Offenders project. Dr. Levitt has authored or co-authored several peer-reviewed publications on issues involving forensic populations. She has worked as a forensic psychologist in a county jail and as a clinical psychologist in the assessment unit of a state prison. Gary Patronek, V.M.D., Ph.D., is a veterinarian and epidemiologist who works as an independent consultant. He also maintains an adjunct faculty appointment at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, where he was previously the Director of the Center for Animals and Public Policy and founded the Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium (HARC). Dr. Patronek has authored or co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications. He is recognized as one of the nation's foremost experts on animal hoarding. Thomas Grisso, Ph.D., ABPP (Forensic), a clinical psychologist, is Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and engages in consultation nationwide and internationally on forensic assessments and juvenile justice reform. He is nationally recognized as a leader in developing the field of forensic psychology; he pioneered concepts on which several types of forensic evaluations such as competence to stand trial have been developed. His research has focused on the development of models and methods for criminal, civil, and juvenile forensic assessments. Dr. Grisso has authored, co-authored or edited 14 books as well as a 19-volume book series for Oxford University Press on Forensic Mental Health Assessments. He serves as executive director of the American Board of Forensic Psychology.