Thomas Baker

Thomas Baker is an Associate Professor and Undergraduate Director in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Central Florida (UCF). He previously served as an Assistant Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University's Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. His research focuses on corrections, public attitudes toward criminal justice policies, and institutional corrections. He holds B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Criminology from Florida State University.

Dr. Baker's work emphasizes correctional officers' experiences, incarcerated populations' perceptions, and the effects of procedural justice on inmate behavior and recidivism. His research includes interviews with hundreds of correctional officers and thousands of incarcerated individuals in Florida and Virginia, as well as studies on public attitudes toward criminal justice policies.

His recent articles (2023–2025) explore procedural justice spillover effects on recidivism, correctional officer fear, and racial disparities in justice-involved populations. His studies consistently highlight the importance of procedural fairness in reducing prison misconduct and improving post-release outcomes.

No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned in the provided materials. His advising and grants sections remain unspecified. He is affiliated with the College of Community Innovation and Education at UCF.