Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
I am Christopher J. Marier, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice. I earned my Ph. D. in Criminology from the University of South Florida. Before that, I was a police officer in South Florida. My teaching and research focus primarily on policing, race and justice, and group conflict. My research has been published in leading journals, including Justice Quarterly, Criminology and Public Policy, and Journal of Criminal Justice.
It took just seconds for a routine traffic stop on a Texas highway to escalate into a fatal shooting that left 24-year-old Ashtian Barnes bleeding to death in the driver’s seat. What happened during those seconds and the minutes prior during the April 2016 incident is now central to a Supreme Court case being argued …
Continue reading “‘Split-second decision’: Supreme Court returns to the question of police killings”
As U.S. police departments release preliminary or finalized 2024 crime numbers, many are reporting historic declines in homicides and drops in other violent crimes compared to 2023. In many parts of the country, though, those decreases don’t match the public perception. Experts say most cities are seeing a drop in crime levels that spiked during …
Continue reading “US cities largely saw a drop in violent crime in 2024, yet many still feel unsafe”
The Fort Walton Beach Police Department has welcomed a unique addition to its team: Milo, a 9-week-old labradoodle serving as a community wellness K-9. Unlike traditional police dogs, Milo’s role is to provide support at crime scenes, community events, and within the department itself. “I think Milo is a visual reminder that mental health is …
Continue reading “New K-9 Milo offers stress relief to Fort Walton Beach community and police”