David DeMatteo, JD PhD

Director, JD/PhD Program in Law & Psychology, Professor of Law, Professor of Psychology

DeMatteo's research interests include psychopathy, forensic mental health assessment, drug policy and offender diversion. His research has been funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and American Psychology-Law Society. DeMatteo is licensed as a psychologist in Pennsylvania, where he conducts forensic mental health assessments of juveniles and adults. He has co-authored three books in his field, with two more forthcoming, and more than 60 articles and book chapters. He is the associate editor of Law and Human Behavior, on the editorial boards of Criminal Justice & Behavior and the Open Access Journal of Forensic Psychology and a reviewer for more than 15 scientific journals. DeMatteo was chair of the American Psychological Association's (APA) Committee on Legal Issues in 2011, and he is currently council representative to APA for the American Psychology-Law Society (Div. 41 of APA).

In The News

The Verdict Is In: Courtrooms Seldom Overrule Bad Science
David DeMatteo, JD, PhD, associate professor in the Kline School of Law and the College of Arts and Sciences, together with Sarah Fishel, a student in the JD/PhD program, and Aislinn Tansey, a master's student, were mentioned in a Feb. 17 ScienceBlog article about research that determined courtrooms seldom overrule bad science.
Why Can't People Like Anthony Weiner Stop Sexting?
David DeMatteo, JD, PhD, an associate professor of law and psychology and director of the JD/PhD program in the Kline School of Law and College of Arts and Sciences, was quoted in a Sept. 2 healthline.com story about the high-profile "sexting" situation involving Anthony Weiner.
Ballard: Words that Don't Belong Together: Teens and Sexting
Research on sexting, conducted by David DeMatteo, JD, PhD, an associate professor of law and psychology and director of the JD/PhD program in the Kline School of Law and College of Arts and Sciences, was mentioned in the Houston Chronicle on Dec. 10.
Schools, Cops Take Notice as Teen Sexting Becomes New Norm
Research on sexting, conducted by David DeMatteo, JD, PhD, an associate professor of law and psychology and director of the JD/PhD program in the Kline School of Law and College of Arts and Sciences, was mentioned by Public Radio International’s “The Takeaway” on Nov. 12.
12 Reasons Why Gender Matters to Understanding Teenage Sexting
Research by David DeMatteo, JD, PhD, an associate professor of law and psychology and director of the JD/PhD program in the Kline School of Law and College of Arts and Sciences, was mentioned in a Huffington Post story on Nov. 10 about teenage sexting.
The Sexting Epidemic
Rob D’Ovidio, PhD, an associate professor and associate dean for humanities and social sciences research in the College of Arts and Sciences, was quoted in a Nov. 9 KYW-TV (CBS-3) segment about how much information Google keeps on its users.
‘Sexting’ Case Rocks Colorado Town
David DeMatteo, JD, PhD, an associate professor of law and psychology and director of the JD/PhD program in the Kline School of Law and College of Arts and Sciences, was quoted in a Wall Street Journal story on Nov. 8 about students facing child porn charges for sexting. His research was also mentioned in a Nov. 7 CNN segment.
Your Guide to Safe(r) Sexting
A study on ‘sexting’ – sending sexually explicit text messages – by David DeMatteo, JD, PhD, an associate professor of psychology and law and director of Drexel’s joint JD/PhD program in psychology and law in the College of Arts and Sciences and Kline School of Law, Heidi Strohmaier, a PhD candidate in psychology, and Megan Murphy, a JD/PhD candidate, was mentioned in a PC Magazine article on April 20.

Related Articles

A new study from Drexel University found that the majority of young people are not aware of the legal ramifications of underage sexting Majority of Minors Engage in Sexting, Unaware of Harsh Legal Consequences
Sexting among youth is more prevalent than previously thought, according to a new study from Drexel University that was based on a survey of undergraduate students at a large northeastern university. More than 50 percent of those surveyed reported that they had exchanged sexually explicit text messages, with or without photographic images, as minors.