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Cristian Apolinar
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Cristian Apolinar

Doctoral Candidate | Criminology, Law & Society | University of California, Irvine

My research examines the community-level consequences of proactive policing strategies, focusing on how place-based and intensive enforcement shape neighborhood conditions and equity over time. Using longitudinal and spatial methods, I analyze policy effects and track neighborhood change, with attention to shifts in socioeconomic status, racial and ethnic composition, and educational attainment, to better understand how policing strategies contribute to or mitigate inequalities across communities.

Policy Evaluation Place-Based Policy Neighborhood Effects Equity & Disparities Spatial Inequality

Education

Ph.D., Criminology, Law & Society, University of California, Irvine (anticipated June 2026)
M.A., Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine (June 2023)
B.A., Criminology & Justice Studies, California State University, Northridge (December 2019)

Honors and Awards

CLS Internal Quarterly Fellowship (CIQF) , Department of Criminology, Law & Society, University of California, Irvine (January 2026)
NextGen Pathways Mentor Award , University of California, Irvine (July 2024)
Research Discovery Program (RDP) Mentor Fellowship , University of California, Irvine (June 2024)
Research Discovery Program (RDP) Mentor Fellowship , University of California, Irvine (March 2024)
Criminology, Law & Society Pedagogical Certificate Program Fellowship , University of California, Irvine (December 2023)
Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program (CDIP) Fellowship , California State University: Office of the Chancellor (June 2020)
Community College Transfer Award , Department of Criminology & Justice Studies, California State University, Northridge (May 2020)
Community Volunteer Award , Los Angeles Police Department: Devonshire Community Police Station (December 2019)
Sally Casanova Scholarship , California Pre-Doctoral Program, California State University: Office of the Chancellor (June 2019)

Publications

Geller, A., Al-Naiem, K., Apolinar, C., Hobby, S., Iliff, C., Jones, P., Livings, M., Ornelas, Y., & Yang, P. (2025). Aggressive policing as an individual and environmental social determinant of health among urban adolescents. Manuscript under review.

Presentations

Apolinar, C. (2025, November). Examining the secondary effects of the LAPD’s Operation LASER on Los Angeles neighborhoods [Conference presentation]. Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM), Seattle, WA, United States.
Apolinar, C. (2025, February). The collateral consequences of proactive policing: Examining potential impacts on assessment scores [Conference presentation]. Western Society of Criminology (WSC), Seattle, WA, United States.
Zavita, K. R., Alvarez, G., Punla, C., Apolinar, C., & Aguirre, A. (2024, November). ASC presidential panel: Training the teachers of tomorrow during trying times [Conference presentation]. American Society of Criminology (ASC), San Francisco, CA, United States.
Apolinar, C., Bencomo, A., Cogswell, H., Lewis, T., Mounts, I., Rivera, B., Sta. Cruz, S., Wang, C., & Serpas, D. (2024, Fall). Identifying and addressing disparities in high DFW courses: Insights and proposed actions [Interactive gallery walk presentation]. Data Action Project Interactive Gallery Walk, Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program (CDIP), California State University (CSU) Chancellor’s Office, Online.
Apolinar, C. (2024, February). The impact of hot spot policing on neighborhood desirability [Conference presentation]. Western Society of Criminology (WSC), Long Beach, CA, United States.
Apolinar, C. (2022, February). Examining the secondary effects of the LAPD’s Operation LASER on Los Angeles neighborhoods [Conference presentation]. Western Society of Criminology (WSC), Honolulu, HI, United States. (Preliminary results)
Apolinar, C., & Ramirez, N. G. (2019, November). Examining the relationship between financial disadvantage and contact with the police [Conference presentation]. American Society of Criminology (ASC), San Francisco, CA, United States.

Teaching Experience

Lab & Discussion Section Roles (Coordinated with Primary Instructor)
  • Data Analysis II | Lab Instructor (Winter 2024)
  • Research Design | Discussion Section Instructor (Winter 2023)
Teaching Assistant Roles
  • Introduction to Criminology, Law & Society (Winter 2026)
  • Crime, Law & Trauma (Fall 2025)
  • Homeland Security & Society (Spring 2025)
  • Fundamentals of Criminology, Law & Society (Winter 2025)
  • Forensic Science, Law, and Society (Fall 2024)
  • Miscarriages of Justice (Fall 2024)
  • Surveillance and Society (Winter 2024)
  • Fundamentals of Criminology, Law & Society (Fall 2023)
  • Introduction to Criminology, Law & Society (Spring 2023)
  • Research Design (Winter 2023)
  • Theories of Punishment (Fall 2022)
  • Crime Hot Spots (Winter 2022)
  • The Death Penalty (Fall 2021)
  • Violence in Society (Spring 2021)
  • Field Study Writing Seminar (Winter 2021)

News

Livable Cities Lab Evaluates Community Response Program
School of Social Ecology | University of California, Irvine · Read more
15 Northridge Students Named Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholars by CSU
CSUN Today | California State University, Northridge · Read more

Curriculum Vitae

Download CV (Coming Soon)

Contact

Email
apolinac@uci.edu
LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/cristianapolinar