David B. Muhlhausen, Ph.D. is Research Fellow in Empirical Policy Analysis at The Heritage Foundation’s Center for Data Analysis. Muhlhausen has emerged as one of the top Washington experts on criminal justice programs, particularly law enforcement grant programs administered by the Justice Department. He has been called on to testify before Congress on the new challenges and needs of local enforcement as they take the lead in homeland security, as well as on the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program and other initiatives that fall under the department.
In 2001, U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs Chairman Joseph Biden called a hearing specifically to discuss a Muhlhausen analysis of the COPS program that found the program to be ineffective in reducing violent crime. “I want my motive straight out front so everybody understands,” Biden at the hearing. “I want to have a hearing on what has been, from The Heritage Foundation and other places, criticism that the COPS program does not work.” In addition to testifying several times on federal law enforcement grants, Muhlhausen has testified on improving evaluation research done by the Department of Justice, the deterrent effect of the death penalty, innovative policing strategies, parole policy, delinquency prevention policy, prisoner reentry issues, and the National Voter Registration Act.
Additionally, Muhlhausen has produced research on the impact of voter ID laws on voter turnout. His research strongly indicates that voter ID laws have little to no effect on voter turnout. The legislative committees from Kansas and Texas have sought Muhlhausen expert testimony on voter ID laws. Muhlhausen in recent years delved into voter registration issues. His analysis of voter registration at welfare agency offices helped debunk myths that welfare reform led to lower-income Americans becoming disenfranchised.
An expert in not only criminal justice policy and election reform but in evaluating the performance of government programs, Muhlhausen came to Heritage from the staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he specialized in crime and juvenile justice policy. Before that, he served as a manager at a juvenile correctional facility in Baltimore.
Muhlhausen’s essays have appeared in Forbes, The Washington Post, and The Washington Times. His television appearances include the PBS “NewsHour with Jim Lehrer,” MSNBC’s “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” CNN’s “Lou Dobbs Moneyline,” and FOX News Channel’s “O'Reilly Factor” and “Special Report.”
He holds a doctorate degree in public policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and a bachelor's degree in political science and justice studies from Frostburg State University. As an adjunct professor of public policy at George Mason University, Muhlhausen teaches program evaluation and statistical methods to graduate students.
