Dr. Jennifer Carson

Professor of Criminal Justice & Criminology

Dr. Carson teaches courses on terrorism & homeland security, along with serving as the Director of the Honors College

• Research interests include terrorism and comparative criminology
• Frequently mentors student-led research projects, both at the undergraduate and graduate level, including heading up a virtual reality lab
• Dr. Carson earned degrees from:

University of Maryland, College Park (2010) Ph.D. in Criminology & Criminal Justice

University of Maryland, College Park (2006) M.A. in Criminology & Criminal Justice

University of Minnesota (2002) B.S. in Child Psychology

Selected publications include:

Carson, J. V., Dierenfeldt, R., & Fisher, D. (2021). Country-level firearm availability and terrorism: A new approach to examining the gun-crime relationship. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 59(4), 449-486.

Carson, J. & Politte, H. (2020). Implicit bias within public reporting: A virtual reality experiment using "suspicious" activity. Crime and Delinquency https://doi.org/10.1177/0011128720981897

Carson, J.V., & Dugan, L. & Yang, S.M (equal authorship). (2020). A comprehensive application of rational choice theory: How costs imposed by, and benefits derived from, the U.S. federal government affect incidents perpetrated by the radical eco-movement. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 36, 701–724. 

Carson, J.V. & Politte, H.*(equal authorship). (2021). The role of implicit bias in public reporting, Crime and Delinquency, 67(12), 2135–2162.

Carson, J. V. (2017). Assessing the effectiveness of high‐profile targeted killings in the “war on terror.” Criminology & Public Policy, 16 (1), 191-220.

Carson, J. V., Dierenfeldt, R., & Fisher, D. (2021). Country-level firearm availability and terrorism: A new approach to examining the gun-crime relationship. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 59(4), 449-486.

Carson, J. & Politte, H. (2020). Implicit bias within public reporting: A virtual reality experiment using "suspicious" activity. Crime and Delinquency https://doi.org/10.1177/0011128720981897

Carson, J.V., & Dugan, L. & Yang, S.M (equal authorship). (2020). A comprehensive application of rational choice theory: How costs imposed by, and benefits derived from, the U.S. federal government affect incidents perpetrated by the radical eco-movement. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 36, 701–724. 

Carson, J.V. & Politte, H.*(equal authorship). (2021). The role of implicit bias in public reporting, Crime and Delinquency, 67(12), 2135–2162.

Carson, J. V. (2017). Assessing the effectiveness of high‐profile targeted killings in the “war on terror.” Criminology & Public Policy, 16 (1), 191-220.