Peter Simonsson, PhD, MSW, LCSW
Cohort: 2016-2017
Advisor: Dr. Phyllis Solomon
Research Interests
Improving outcomes for people with severe mental illness in the criminal justice system
Service delivery and systems to people with severe mental illness
Intersection between behavioral science and the criminal justice system
Interpersonal violence
Peter Simonsson is a third-year PhD student at SP2. His research centers on the intersection of criminal justice and behavioral sciences, and developing interventions that improves justice outcomes for people with severe mental illness. His primary focus is understanding violence risk factors among people with severe mental illness and reducing the risk for violent and non-violent recidivism. Peter is currently working with his advisor, Dr. Phyllis Solomon, on a project evaluating judicial attitudes and beliefs about mental illness and recovery. Before joining SP2, Peter was the Director of Survivor Services at the Joseph J. Peters Institute in Philadelphia. Peter oversaw the clinical treatment, evaluations, and care of 1,000 families annually who suffered trauma from interpersonal violence. Peter has also served as an expert witness in courts testifying about evidence-based clinical services and forensic evaluations of sexually abused children. He received his MSW from NYU and his Bachelor’s degree in practical philosophy from Lund University in Sweden.