James Densley on Muck Rack

James Densley

(He/Him)
  • Associate Professor, Metropolitan State University
Minneapolis, Saint Paul
As seen in: CNN, MSN, The New York Times, The New York Times en Español, Business Insider, Daily Mail, HuffPost, The Guardian, The Independent (UK), The Sun and
Covers:  Crime, gun violence, mass shootings, street gangs, drug dealing, social media, policing.
@jillkpeterson & James Densley's nonpartisan, nonprofit research center known worldwide for its mass shooter database. linktr.ee/theviolenceproject

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James Densley’s Biography

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Dr. James Densley is an internationally recognized criminologist, bestselling author, and leading voice in violence prevention. He is Professor and Department Chair of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Metro State University and Co-Founder of The Violence Prevention Project Research Center ("The Violence Project") at Hamline University.
Known for pioneering studies on street gangs, criminal networks, mass shootings, and policing, Densley has authored nine books and edited two others, includin…

James Densley’s Journalist Portfolio

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We Study Mass Shooters. Something Terrifying Is Happening Online.

We Study Mass Shooters. Something Terrifying Is Happening Online.

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I'm an expert on school shootings. I thought I was unshockable

I'm an expert on school shootings. I thought I was unshockable

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Opinion | We Profiled the 'Signs of Crisis' in 50 Years of Mass Shootings. This Is What We Found.

Opinion | We Profiled the 'Signs of Crisis' in 50 Years of Mass Shootings. This Is What We Found.

He was accused of threatening to kill his roommate. He believed his family tried to poison him. He thought hi…

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The Steps We Can Take to Reduce Mass Shootings in America

The Steps We Can Take to Reduce Mass Shootings in America

There is not one easy solution to mass shootings in the U.S. but a combination of changes can make a differen…

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Opinion | Hate is not at the root of most mass shootings

Opinion | Hate is not at the root of most mass shootings

Hatred, often cited as a motivation for mass shootings such as the one in Buffalo, N.Y., is not a cause, but …

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Assessing Shooting Threats Is a Matter of Life or Death. Why Aren't Experts Better at It?

Assessing Shooting Threats Is a Matter of Life or Death. Why Aren't Experts Better at It?

There is no playbook for schools, and they need all the help they can get.

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Articles

Students are taught to hide in closets and under tables if there is a school shooting – but does practicing for this possibility keep kids safe?

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By James Densley
| Tolerance Canada
© 2026 Tolerance.ca ® Inc. All reproduction rights reserved. All information reproduced on the Web pages of www.tolerance.ca (including articles, images, photographs, and logos) is protected by intellectual property rights owned by Tolerance.ca ® Inc. or, in certain cases, by its author. Any reproduction of the information for use other than personal use is prohibited.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (662) Issue with article?

Students are taught to hide in closets and under tables if there is a school shooting – but does practicing for this possibility keep kids safe?

|
By James Densley
| Yahoo Canada
James Densley, Metropolitan State University Wed, April 29, 2026 at 1:32 p.m. UTC 5 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Most schools do lockdown drills, but there is not any federal guidance on the best approach to this practice. TW Farlow/iStock/Getty Images Plus There have been 63 school shootings – meaning any time there is gunfire on a school campus – so far in 2026. They happen so often that preparing for one has become normal.
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Students are taught to hide in closets and under tables if there is a school shooting – but does practicing for this possibility keep kids safe?

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By James Densley
| The Caledonian-Record
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Interview

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Have you ever used a typewriter?

Yes! An old Imperial Typewriter from my hometown of Leicester, England.

What tools and software do you use to do your job?

My PhD :-)

What's your favorite social network?

None. They all monetize outrage.

Awards

UK Prime Minister's Points of Light Award

2017 - Outstanding individual volunteers
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Minnesota Book Award

2022 - General Nonfiction

The Minnesota Book Awards are presented annually for books created by writers, illustrators or book artists who are Minnesotans. The award, originally established in 1988, is organized by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library.

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