Matthew P. West is a senior research analyst at the Institute for Justice, where he develops and conducts original social science and policy research to advance IJ’s mission. Prior to joining IJ, he was an assistant professor of criminology and criminal justice at Southern Illinois University. There, he taught courses on research methods, statistics, and the justice system, mentored graduate students, and performed and published empirical research on topics like legal decision-making.
Matthew earned a B.S. in psychology from Aquinas College, an M.A. in criminal justice from the University of Nevada-Reno, and a Ph.D. in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
Matthew's Research & Reports
Cosmetology | Occupational Licensing
Clean Cut
Clean Cut analyzed thousands of health inspections across four states and finds nail salons and barbershops were clean and safe, regardless of whether workers faced burdensome licensing, lighter licensing, or no licensing at all.
Civil Forfeiture | Private Property
Forfeiture in Arizona Before Reform: Why Concerns About Abuse Were Justified
Using more than four years’ worth of data leading up to Arizona’s sweeping 2021 forfeiture reforms, this study finds lawmakers were right to worry that forfeiture was putting ordinary, often innocent, people at risk.