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Professor of Criminal Justice, Metropolitan State University

Dr. James Densley is Professor of Criminal Justice and Department Chair of the School of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice at Metro State University, part of the Minnesota State system. He is co-founder and co-president of The Violence Project Research Center, best known for its database of mass shooters.

Densley has received global media attention for his work on street gangs, criminal networks, violence, and policing. He is the author or coauthor of eight books, including, "The Violence Project: How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic," winner of the 2022 Minnesota Book Award; 50 peer-reviewed articles in leading social science journals; and over 100 book chapters, essays, and other other works in outlets such as CNN, The Guardian, The LA Times, TIME, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.

Experience

  • 2011–present
    Professor, Metro State University

Education

  • 2011 
    University of Oxford, PhD

Honours

Winner of the 2022 Minnesota Book Award; 2017 Prime Minister's Points of Light Award