Frank Baumgartner

Frank R. Baumgartner is the Richard J. Richardson Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As a leading scholar of the policy process, he co-developed the punctuated equilibrium theory and has extensively studied criminal justice issues, including the death penalty, racial disparities in policing, and media framing of policy debates. His work combines statistical analysis, comparative perspectives, and advocacy for criminal justice reform.

His research spans decades, with a focus on how interest groups, media coverage, and public opinion shape policy outcomes. Recent projects analyze race and policing, particularly through traffic stop data. His 2018 book Suspect Citizens won the APSA Law and Courts Section’s Best Book Award, and he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2017) and named a Guggenheim Fellow (2023-24).

Prof. Baumgartner collaborates with former UNC graduate students and colleagues on statistical justice studies, including analyses of death penalty disparities and racial bias in law enforcement. His work has been featured in major media outlets (e.g., New York Times, The Washington Post) and informs policy advocacy through the Policy Agendas Project.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Best Book Award (APSA Law and Courts Section, 2019)
  • American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellow (2017)
  • Guggenheim Fellow (2023-24)

He advises PhD and graduate students in criminal justice and policy research, with notable collaborations including Derek A. Epp, Kelsey Shoub, and Kaneesha R. Johnson. His work intersects with advocacy through Healing Justice, an organization co-founded with his wife, Jennifer E. Thompson, focusing on restorative justice and wrongful convictions.