TaLisa J. Carter is an affiliated scholar at the Urban Institute; an assistant professor in the Department of Justice, Law, and Criminology at American University; and an affiliate with the Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence at George Mason University.

Carter is dedicated to understanding the interactions of deviance, social organizations, and race. Her ongoing research examines theoretical explanations of accountability in the criminal justice system, the role of identity in criminal justice professions, and the impact of colorism on criminal justice outcomes.  

Previously, Carter worked as a deputy corrections officer in Savannah, Georgia, where she supervised residents with diverse classification statuses. Her work has been funded by the National Science Foundation and published in Deviant Behavior and Sociological Forum.