DPhil in Law, University of Oxford
MPhil in Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Oxford
Msc in Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Oxford
MA in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, University of New Haven
BS in Computer and Information Science, University of Maryland University College
BS in Psychology, University of Maryland University College
Dr. Marie-Helen (Maria) Maras is a tenured Full Professor at the Department of Security, Fire and Emergency Management and the Director of the Center for Cybercrime Studies at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She is also a faculty member of the graduate program in Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity at John Jay and a faculty member of the PhD program in Criminal Justice at the CUNY Graduate Center. Her academic background and research cover the evolution of transnational crime (e.g., cybercrime, smuggling of migrants, and trafficking in persons and drugs), transnational security issues (e.g., war and terrorism), surveillance, and the legal, political, social, cultural, and economic impact of digital technology. She serves as the Director and Principal Investigator of approximately $6,000,000 in federally-funded awards. She also served as the Director and Principal Investigator of a grant project on darknet fentanyl trafficking for the National Institute of Justice ($598,637) and served as a co-PI on two National Science Foundation grants ($399,000) on improving cyberinfrastructure at the college and enhancing institutional cybersecurity research talent. Dr. Maras serves as a subject matter expert and consultant on cybercrime, cyber organized crime, and technology and human rights for UNODC. Dr. Maras is the author of numerous peer-reviewed academic journal articles and books, including Real Criminology (Oxford University Press, 2024); Cybercriminology (Oxford University Press, 2016); Computer Forensics: Cybercriminals, Laws, and Evidence (now in its second edition; Jones and Bartlett, 2014); Transnational Security (CRC Press, 2014); CRC Press Terrorism Reader (CRC Press, 2013); and Counterterrorism (Jones and Bartlett, 2012), among other publications. Prior to her academic post, she served in the U.S. Navy for approximately seven years gaining significant experience in security, international investigations, and law enforcement from her posts as a Navy Law Enforcement Specialist and Command Investigator. During the early stages of her military career, she worked as an Electronics and Calibration Technician.
Chair, Policy Committee, American Society of Criminology, Division of Cybercrime (2023 - Present)
Member, American Society of Criminology, Division of Cybercrime
Member, American Society of Criminology, Division of International Criminology
Member, European Society of Criminology
Select Publications
Books
Maras, M.-H. (2024). Real Criminology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Maras, M.-H. (2016). Cybercriminology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Maras, M.-H. (2014). Transnational Security. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Maras, M.-H. (2014). Computer Forensics: Cybercriminals, Laws and Evidence (2nd edition). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
Maras, M.-H. (2012). Counterterrorism. Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
Regoli, R. M., Hewitt, J. D., and Maras, M.-H. (2012). Exploring Criminal Justice: The Essentials (2nd edition). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
Maras, M.-H. (2011). Computer Forensics: Cybercriminals, Laws and Evidence. Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
Journal Articles (*denotes student co-author; ** dual first authorship)
Maras, M.-H. and Logie, K.* (2024). Countering the Complex, Multifaceted Nature of Deepfakes: An Augean Task? Crime Science (Special Collection on Measuring, Detecting, and Preventing Cyber Social Threats), 13(31), 1-17.
Logie, K.* and Maras, M.-H. (2024). Doxing: How a darknet shop created the blackmail as a service business model. Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research, published online July 29, 2024
Maras, M.-H. and Ives, E.* Deconstructing a Form of Hybrid Investment Fraud: Examining ‘Pig Butchering’ in the United States. Journal of Economic Criminology, 5 (Special Issue on Relationship Fraud: Romance, Friendship and Family Frauds), 100066.
Nicolai, F.,** Maras, M.-H.,** Trautmann, J., and Schneider, J.* (2024). When Objects Betray You: The Internet of Things and the Privilege Against Self-Incrimination. Information & Communications Technology Law, published online May 28, 2024.
O’Brien, W. and Maras, M.-H. Technology-Facilitated Coercive Control: Response, Redress, Risk, and Reform. International Review of Law, Computers and Technology (Special Issue on Digital and Online Violence), 38(2), 174–194.
Maras, M.-H., Arsovska, J., Wandt, A., Knieps, M.,* and Logie, K.* (2024). The SECI Model and Darknet Markets: Knowledge Creation and Sharing in Criminal Organizations and Communities of Practice. European Journal of Criminology, 21(2), 165–190 [first published online August 19, 2022].
Maras, M.-H., Logie, K.* Arsovska, J., Wandt, A. S., and Barthuly, B.* (2023). Decoding Hidden Darknet Networks: What We Learned About the Illicit Fentanyl Trade on AlphaBay. Journal of Forensic Sciences (Special Section on Fentanyl and its Analogs in Forensic Science), 68(5), 1451-1469.
Maras, M.-H. and Miranda, M. D. (2023). Augmented body surveillance: Human Microchip Implantations and the Omnipresent Threat of Function Creep. Technology in Society, 74(102295), 1-15.
Maras, M.-H. and Arsovska, J. (2023) Understanding the Intersection between Technology and Kidnapping: A Typology of Virtual Kidnapping. International Criminology, 3(2), 162 - 176.
Maras, M.-H., Arsovska, J., Wandt, A., and Logie, K.* (2023). Keeping Pace with the Evolution of Illicit Darknet Markets: Identifying Trust Signals and Developing a Vendor Trustworthiness Index. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 39(2), 276–297.
Maras, M.-H. and O’Brien, W. (2023). Discrimination, Stigmatization, and Surveillance: COVID-19 and Social Sorting. Information & Communications Technology Law, 32(1), 122-148.
Maras, M.-H., Miranda, M. D., and Wandt, Adam S. (2023). The use of COVID-19 contact tracing app data as evidence of a crime. Science & Justice, 63(2), 158-163.
Maras, M.-H. and Logie, K.* (2021). Understanding What it Really Takes to Control Your Data: A Critical Evaluation of FaceApp. Journal of Internet Law, 24(8), 1 and 11-18.
Maras, M.-H., and Wandt, A. S. (2020). Case Commentary State of Ohio v. Ross Compton: Internet-Enabled Medical Device Data Introduced as Evidence of Arson and Insurance Fraud. International Journal of Evidence and Proof, 24(3), 321-328.
Maras, M.-H. and Wandt, A. (2019). Enabling Mass Surveillance: Data Aggregation in the Age of Big Data and the Internet of Things. Journal of Cyber Policy, 4(2), 160-177.
Shapiro, L. R. and Maras, M.-H. (2019). Women’s Radicalization to Religious Terrorism: An Examination of ISIS Cases in the U.S. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 42(1-2), 88-119.
Maras, M.-H. and Alexandrou, A. (2018). Determining Authenticity of Video Evidence in the Age of Artificial Intelligence and in the Wake of Deepfake Videos. International Journal of Evidence and Proof, 23(3), 255-262.
Shapiro, L. R., Maras, M.-H., Velotti, L., Pickman, S., Wei, H.-L., and Till, R. (2018). Trojan horse risks in the maritime transportation systems sector. Journal of Transportation Security, 11(3-4), 65-83.
Maras, M.-H. and Shapiro, L. R. (2017). Child Sex Dolls and Robots: More Than Just an Uncanny Valley. Journal of Internet Law, 21(6), 3-21.
Maras, M.-H. (2017). Online Classified Advertisement Sites: Pimps and Facilitators of Prostitution and Sex Trafficking? Journal of Internet Law, 21(5), 17-21.
Maras, M.-H. (2017). Overcoming the Intelligence Sharing Paradox: Improving Information Sharing Through Change in Organizational Culture. Comparative Strategy, 36(3), 1-11.
Maras, M.-H. (2017). Social Media Platforms: Targeting the “Found Space” of Terrorists. Journal of Internet Law, 21(2), 3-9.
Maras, M.-H. and Miranda, M.-H. (2017). Overlooking Forensic Evidence? A Review of the 2014 International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict. Global Security: Health, Science and Policy, 2(1), 10-21.
Miranda, M. D. and Maras, M.-H. (2017). Sexual Violence Perpetrated Against Women in India: The Role of Forensic Evidence. International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice, 41(1-2), 95-107 [published online on 14 Oct 2016].
Maras, M.-H. (2015). Combating Cybercrime: Dealing With Barriers to International Investigations and Enforcement in Cyberspace. Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Annual: Global Perspectives, 7(2), 175–201.
Maras, M.-H. (2015). Unprotected Speech Communicated via Social Media: What Amounts to a True Threat? Journal of Internet Law, 19(3), 3–9.
Maras M.-H. (2015). The Internet of Things: Security and Privacy Implications. International Data Privacy Law, 5(2), 99–104.
Charles, C. A. D. and Maras, M.-H. (2015). Strengthening Counterterrorism from the Information of a Successful Terrorist Attack and Failed Missions in the United States. Journal of Applied Security Research, 10(2), 155–180.
Maras, M.-H. (2012). The Social Consequences of a Mass Surveillance Measure: What Happens When We Become the “Others”? International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, 40(2), 65–81.
Maras, M.-H. (2012). The Economic Costs and Consequences of Mass Communications Data Retention: Is the Data Retention Directive a Proportionate Measure? European Journal of Law and Economics, 33(2), 447–472.
Maras, M.-H. (2011). While the European Union was Sleeping, the Data Retention Directive Was Passed: The Political Consequences of Mass Data Retention. Hamburg Review of Social Sciences, 6(2), 1–30.
Maras, M.-H. (2010). How to Catch a Terrorist: Is Mass Surveillance the Answer? Journal of Applied Security Research, 5(1), 20–41.
Chapters in Edited Volumes
Maras, M.-H. (2022). Information Technology and Communications Providers’ Measures against Organized Crime. In Zabyelina, Y., and Thachuk, K. (Eds.). The Private Sector and Organized Crime (pp. 70 – 84). New York, NY: Routledge.
Maras, M.-H. Cybercrime Laws and Investigations. (2019). In M. Natarajan (Ed.). International and Transnational Crime and Justice: An Anthology, second edition. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Shapiro, L. R. and Maras, M.-H. (2020). Women’s Radicalization to Religious Terrorism: An Examination of ISIS Cases in the United States. In M. Conway and S. Macdonald. (Eds.). Islamic State’s Online Activity and Responses. New York, NY: Routledge [journal article reprint].
Miranda, M. D. and Maras, M.-H. (2019). Sexual Violence Perpetrated Against Women in India: The Role of Forensic Evidence. In N. P. Unnithan and M. K. Nalla. (Eds.). Violence Against Women in India. New York, NY: Routledge [journal article reprint].
Maras, M.-H. (2013). Risk Perception, Fear and Its Consequences Following the 2004 Madrid and 2005 London Bombings. In S. J. Sinclair and D. Antonius (Eds.). The Political Psychology of Terrorism Fears (pp. 227–245). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Maras, M.-H. (2009). From Targeted to Mass Surveillance: Is the EU Data Retention Directive a Necessary Measure or an Unjustified Threat to Privacy? In B. Goold and D. Neyland (Eds.). New Directions in Surveillance and Privacy (pp. 74–103). Devon, UK: Willan.
Edited Volumes
Maras, M.-H. (Ed.). (2014). The CRC Press Terrorism Reader. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Encyclopedias
Shapiro, L. R. and Maras, M.-H. (eds.). (2020). Encyclopedia of Security and Emergency Management. Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
2024 Faculty Scholarly Excellence Award, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, New York.
2024 John Jay Heroine, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York (Women’s History Month: Honoring Our Incredible 2024 John Jay Heroines, https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/news-events/news/womens-history-month-honoring-our-incredible-2024-john-jay-heroines).