Alexander Heaton is a doctoral student in the University of Pennsylvania Department of Criminology. His research interests focus on alternative responses to police, arrest diversion, and the role of non‑police institutions in public safety.
Prior to coming to Penn, Alexander worked with the Policing Project at New York University School of Law, the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office of Public Safety, and the University of Chicago Crime Lab on diversion and crisis response initiatives. He previously served as a Foreign Affairs Officer at the U.S. Department of State and as an Infantryman in the United States Marine Corps.
Alexander earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin and his graduate degree from the American University School of International Service.