Matthew J. Hickman, PhD

Hickman_CV (PDF)

Biography

Matthew J. Hickman (Matt) is Professor and Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at Seattle University. In addition to conducting research in the general areas of police integrity and ethics, forensic evidence processing, and quantitative research methods, he teaches a variety of both undergraduate- and graduate-level courses including statistics, research methods, criminology, forensic science, ethics, and crime mapping.

Prior to joining the faculty at Seattle University in 2007, he was employed as a statistician at the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), the statistical research arm of the U.S. Department of Justice, for seven years. There, he specialized in the development and analysis of national data collections relating to law enforcement operations as well as forensic crime laboratories and medicolegal death investigation systems in the United States.

Hickman’s research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals including Criminology, Criminology & Public Policy, Journal of Quantitative Criminology, Sociological Methods and Research, Crime & Delinquency, Police Quarterly, and Policing. He authored over 20 governmental reports on law enforcement and related issues while at BJS. Books include a recent introductory policing textbook, Policing for the 21st Century: Realizing the Vision of Police in a Free Society (Kendall/Hunt, 2016), and edited volumes Forensic Science and the Administration of Justice (Sage, 2014) and Police Integrity and Ethics (Wadsworth/Thomson, 2004). He has written several book chapters for edited volumes including: Race, Ethnicity and Policing; Rational Choice and Criminal Behavior; and Encyclopedia of Police Science.

Hickman is a past President of the Western Society of Criminology, and he also recently served as an Executive Counselor for the American Society of Criminology Division of Policing. He is a member of the American Society of Criminology, Western Society of Criminology, and the International Association of Crime Analysts.

On the lighter side Hickman is an avid sailor and he enjoys cruising the Puget Sound with his family, who hope to one day “cut the lines” and cruise full-time. Bucket-list item: Racing in the Vic-Maui someday ... starts July 1st on even-numbered years!

Teaching and Research Interests

Education

Ph.D. 2005, Temple University; Criminal Justice
MA. 1997, Washington State University; Criminal Justice
BA. 1996, The George Washington University; Criminal Justice

Courses Taught

• Crime Mapping
• Ethics & Decision-making
• Statistics
• Research Methods
• Criminology
• Forensic Science

Research Interests

• Issues in law enforcement (ethics, stress, police behavior)
• Quantitative methods (statistics and research methodology)
• Role of forensic evidence in the administration of justice