Nicholas Perez

Associate Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Ph.D. -- University of South Florida (Criminology)
M.S. -- University of Central Florida (Criminal Justice)
B.A. -- University of Central Florida (Sociology)

Nicholas Perez, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Emergency Management at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). At CSULB, Dr. Perez primarily teaches courses in Policing, Delinquency and the Juvenile Justice System, and Criminological Theory.  Dr. Perez is also the faculty advisor for the CSULB chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society.

Dr. Perez has authored or co-authored peer-reviewed journal articles accepted in Aggression & Violent Behavior, Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, American Journal of Criminal Justice, Child Abuse & Neglect, Crime & Delinquency, Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, Journal of Criminal Justice Education, Journal of Youth and Adolescence, The Police Journal: Theory, Practice, and Principles, Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, Security Journal, and Violence Against Women. He is also the co-author of the 2020 book, Opioid Prescribing Rates and Criminal Justice and Health Outcomes.

His main research interests involve policing, the development of delinquent behavior, opioid and prescription drug abuse, and hazing violence. Dr. Perez is currently working on a National Institute of Justice (NIJ) grant to identify and disrupt fentanyl distribution networks in Long Beach and social network and spatial analysis to identify high-level fentanyl distributors for investigation and prosecution and low-level dealers to services. In the past, he has worked on a Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) grant examining California opioid prescription data and a California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) grant evaluating the effects of community policing efforts in the city of Long Beach.  He is a member of both the American Society of Criminology and the Western Society of Criminology, where he currently serves as secretary on the executive board.

  • Policing
  • Delinquency & Juvenile Justice
  • Opioids and Prescription Drugs
  • Hazing