My research agenda seeks to provide a nuanced understanding of how criminal justice institutions shape democratic life, revealing the complex trade-offs and unintended consequences that characterize American criminal justice policy. By examining these institutions from multiple perspectives—from traditional policing to reform initiatives—I aim to inform evidence-based approaches to criminal justice policy that better serve both public safety and democratic participation.
"More COPS, Higher Turnout?" (Job Market Paper PDF; Supplemental Information; MPSA Blog Post) Under Review.
Received the Lucius Barker award for the best paper on a topic investigating race or ethnicity and politics and honoring the spirit and work of Professor Barker, Midwest Political Science Association 2025
Received the Best Paper in Political Behavior, Midwest Political Science Association 2025
Received the Eldersveld Award for the best paper presented at a conference by a graduate student (co-winner), Department of Political Science, University of Michigan
Abstract: What is the effect of police on the political lives of Americans? Extant studies suggest that scaling back police presence may increase political participation among Black Americans by reducing police surveillance and harassment. I theorize that police indirectly affect voter turnout through their effects on crime, and I argue that Black Americans are uniquely positioned to benefit from reductions in crime. Using data from a natural experiment induced by the disbursement of a federal hiring grant to municipal police agencies, I find evidence that hiring an additional police officer per 10,000 residents narrows the Black-White turnout gap by increasing Black turnout. This increase can be attributed to reductions in criminal violence. This project speaks to the importance of incorporating criminal violence into policy feedback theories of criminal-justice institutions.
"Policing Prosecutorial Power"* (PDF; Supplemental Information; with Charlotte Boucher, Mara Ostfeld, and Chelsea Waddell) Under Review.
Abstract: As concerns about mass incarceration have grown, so too has interest in electing prosecutors that prioritize reducing rates of incarceration. Yet while prosecutors have a fair amount of agency and autonomy to embrace reform, a critical element of prosecutors' capacity to implement reforms is cooperation from local law enforcement. How, then, do police respond to progressive prosecutors' efforts to use tools aimed at de-carceration? Using data from a pre-registered survey experiment, we find that sheriffs and chiefs of police respond negatively to prosecutors described as unilaterally implementing reforms. When exposed to information about prosecutors acting unilaterally, sheriffs and chiefs of police are more likely to view rank-and-file questioning of prosecutorial policies as appropriate, support increased state-level involvement in prosecuting police misconduct, and deprioritize arrests for violent offenses. However, when these prosecutors are described as working with local police agencies to implement reforms, these effects do not persist. Instead, police executives express a greater level of comfort working with prosecutors implementing reforms and deem the prospect of prosecutors taking a stance on police reform as more appropriate. These results suggest that law enforcement backlash to progressive prosecutors is not inevitable but instead emerges in the face of threats to police power.
"Pulled Together or Pushed Apart? Victimization and Racial Solidarity" (Available upon request)
Abstract: Crime deteriorates communal ties, promotes distrust of others, and, in some cases, erodes political participation. I theorize that an additional acute consequence of victimization may be to reduce ethno-racial solidarity. I hypothesize that the corrosive effects of victimization should be most pronounced among Black Americans, as this group is uniquely exposed to a confluence of factors: high rates of violent victimization, high rates of intra-racial violence, and racialized news media frames. For Black Americans, recent victimization may undermine narratives of common struggle and shift explanations for racial inequality from structural to individualistic frameworks. Using data from the 2020 Collaborative Multiracial Post-Election Survey, I find that, among Black survey respondents — but not other groups — recent victimization is negatively associated with linked fate and support for government interventions addressing discrimination against in-group members. Finally, among this group, recent victimization is also positively associated with racial resentment items that endorse individual work ethic and minimize the importance of systemic racism.
"Political Responses to Police Capacity: Evidence from Two Survey Experiments"
explores the attitudinal responses to proposed expansions, reductions, and maintenance of police forces
"Who deserves a second chance? How Defendant Characteristics Shape Prosecutorial Decision-Making"* with Charlotte Boucher, Mara Ostfeld, and Chelsea Waddell
leverages a sample of assistant prosecutor attorneys to understand recommendations for pre-trial diversion programs
"Keeping an eye on the Joneses: When should civilians call the police?" with Marty Davidson and Arvind Krishnamurthy
considers how suspects, behavior, time, and place shape decisions to call 911 and preferences for police & non-police response
"Safer Streets, Higher Turnout? Testing the Effects of Community Violence Intervention Programs in Detroit." with Mara Ostfeld
tests whether neighborhoods with CVIs exhibit lower crime and higher turnout
* with funding from The Joyce Foundation