In general, his research interests include life-course criminology, incarceration, violence, and mental health. Some of his recent work has appeared in Criminology, Journal of Youth and Adolescence, and Criminal Justice and Behavior. Matt co-coordinates the Justice & Society Learning Community, faciliates a youth poetry workshop at Covenant House Michigan, and created and co-organizes Just Poetry, an annual event that brings together individuals from diverse perspectives and experiences to explore "justice" through poetry/spoken word.