Carmen Gutierrez

Carmen Gutierrez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research focuses on intersections between social stratification, criminal justice systems, and health outcomes, with a particular emphasis on disparities related to race, ethnicity, and citizenship. She employs statistical and spatial methods to address policy-relevant questions, such as the long-term health consequences of incarceration and the societal impacts of criminal legal system attitudes.

Her research themes include geriatric health outcomes linked to incarceration histories, racial polarization in criminal justice perceptions, and maternal health disparities among Latina populations. She also examines firearm-related mortality, HIV service disruptions during crises, and neighborhood crime exposure's effects on public health.

Gutierrez's work bridges academic rigor with practical policy applications, aiming to inform systemic reforms and improve health equity through evidence-based interventions. Her affiliations include the Department of Public Policy at UNC, with research supported by quantitative methodologies and interdisciplinary collaborations.