She obtained her doctorate in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Maryland. Her research has focused on corrections, juvenile delinquency, and applied statistical modeling. She was principal investigator on grant funded by the National Institute of Justice that examined the effects of privatization on environmental quality in juvenile correctional facilities. This research on privatization resulted in a book titled Private vs. Public Operation of Juvenile Correctional Facilities. Some of her other recent research can also be found in Crime and Delinquency, Justice Quarterly and Journal of Research on Crime and Delinquency. Recently, Armstrong was nominated for the Carnegie Foundation’s U.S. Professor of the Year Award for her excellence in teaching.