Jennifer Copp received her Ph.D. in Sociology from Bowling Green State University. Her research focuses broadly on the social influences on crime and other problem behaviors, in addition to the marginalizing effects of criminal justice involvement. Current projects, which have received funding from the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the MacArthur Foundation, among others, examine desistance from crime, child well-being in the context of parental incarceration, and pretrial justice. Most recently, she co-edited the Handbook on Pretrial Justice, which explores the complexities of pretrial decisions and practices from pretrial diversion to pretrial detention/release.
Pretrial Justice | Social Influences on Crime (and other Problem Behaviors) | Social Inequality | Intimate Partner Violence | Adolescence and Young Adulthood | Quantitative and Qualitative Methods
Ph.D. 2014, Bowling Green State University; Sociology
M.A. 2012, Bowling Green State University; Sociology
M.A. 2009, The University of Cadiz; Gender Studies
B.A. 2007, The Ohio State University; International Relations and Spanish
Since 2023
"Persistence and Desistance across Generations: A Longitudinal Investigation.” Role: Co-Investigator. U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice ($971,369). 2025-2029
“Evaluating the Efficacy of Supportive Pretrial Release Strategies.” Role: Principal Investigator. Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission ($50,000), MacArthur Foundation Safety and Justice Challenge. 2024-2025
“Court Date Reminders and Court Appearance in Palm Beach County, Florida.” Role: Principal Investigator. Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission ($50,000), MacArthur Foundation Safety and Justice Challenge. 2024-2025
Smart Reentry: Expanding Collaborative Efforts in the Community for More Successful Reentry.” Role: Principal Investigator of subcontract to Florida State University ($80,000). Bureau of Justice Assistance ($491,576). 2024-2027
“A Mixed-Method Examination of the Effectiveness of Money Bail and other Pretrial Release Options.” Role: Principal Investigator. U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice ($560,195). 2024-2027
“Assessment of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) Restrictive Housing Practices.” Role: Co-Investigator. National Institute of Justice/Bureau of Prisons ($7,800,000 total, $871,020 to FSU). 2023-2026
In Press
Giordano, Peggy C., Jennifer E. Copp, Megan Swinehart, Wendy D. Manning, & Monica A. Longmore. “The Wider Network of Social Relationships and Desistance from Crime.” Criminology.
Casey, William, Sonja Siennick, & Jennifer E. Copp. “Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the Family Environment: Examining the Association Between ACEs and Different Types of Juvenile Recidivism.” Crime & Delinquency.
Ranson, Andrew, Ashley Arnio, & Jennifer E. Copp. “Jurisdictional Context and the (Over)use of Pretrial Detention.” Social Science Research.
Published
Vanden Bosch, Matthew, & Jennifer E. Copp. (2026) “Material Hardship and Youth Development: A Longitudinal Lens on the Pathways Linking Early Unmet Needs to Adolescent Delinquency and Arrest.” Justice Quarterly, 43(4), 805-822.
Copp, Jennifer E. (2025) “Cash Bail and Pretrial Compliance: Evidence from a COVID-19 Era Policy Shock.” Criminology & Public Policy, 24(4), 601-622.
Copp, Jennifer E., Elizabeth A. Mumford, & Bruce G. Taylor. (2025) “Parenting and Young Adult Crime: The Enduring Effects of Parental Attitudes and Behaviors. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 62(4), 567-596.
Copp, Jennifer E., & Elizabeth I. Johnson. (2025) “A Life Course Perspective on Parental Incarceration and other Forms of Childhood Adversity.” Children and Youth Services Review, 168, 1-12.