Maria Arndt

Maria Arndt is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Law, Police Science, and Criminal Justice Administration at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Her research focuses on prosecutorial decision-making, organizational dynamics of prosecutors’ offices, and racial disparities in criminal justice outcomes. She holds a Ph.D. in International Crime and Justice from Florida International University (2022) and a B.A. in Criminology & Law/International Studies from the University of Florida (2016).

Her work bridges quantitative and qualitative methods to examine prosecutorial discretion, data-informed prosecution practices, and the interplay between police and prosecutors. Recent studies include analyzing prosecutors’ attitudes toward racial disparities and the utility of data-driven decision-making.

Dr. Arndt’s articles explore topics such as prosecutorial diversion mechanisms, case prioritization in traffic offenses, and the role of race and physical evidence in homicide arrests. She is also investigating factors influencing local prosecutor elections, aiming to shed light on critical electoral dynamics in criminal justice leadership.

Professional contributions include serving as a research assistant on a MacArthur Foundation project evaluating prosecutors’ data collection practices. Her research has been published in journals like Race and Justice, Criminal Justice Review, and Qualitative Criminology.