James is currently Senior Research and Policy Officer for Penington Institute, an independent not-for-profit that supports evidence-based responses to drug harms. He also holds an honorary position in Criminology at the University of Melbourne.
James completed his PhD in Criminology at the University of Melbourne. His thesis examined how homelessness is regulated and criminalised in Melbourne.
James's other research interests include urban design and governance, histories of nomadism and itinerancy, criminological theory, critical, radical and queer criminologies.