John Leverso is an Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati in the School of Criminal Justice.

I am an Assistant Professor in the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati, where I combine research and firsthand experience to study the realities of urban street gangs.

My research blends sociological and criminological perspectives to investigate the social organization of urban street gangs—not just crime and delinquency, but also the group dynamics that shape gang life, the de-escalation of disputes, and how gangs evolve across different racial, gendered, and digital contexts. I also study the health consequences of justice system contact, particularly among disadvantaged youth.

However my journey here was anything but typical.
At 16, I was charged as an adult for a gang-related crime and spent over a decade incarcerated in Illinois, including time in solitary confinement under harsh conditions. However, my story did not end there. I used education as a path forward—earning multiple degrees while incarcerated and, after release, completing a PhD in Sociology at the University of Washington in 2020. For more information on my unique educational journey see the University of Washington Sociology Matters article below.

My forthcoming book, Crossing Worlds: My Journey from Gangs and Prison to a PhD and Professorship, tells that story—a deeply personal narrative about violence, incarceration, and redemption that also reflects on broader systems of punishment and social mobility in America.

As a scholar, I use both qualitative and quantitative methods, including statistical modeling, network analysis, life history interviews, and content analysis of digital gang communication. In the classroom, I teach courses on criminology, urban street gangs, race and the criminal justice system, social statistics, and graduate-level qualitative methods.

I’m a native of Chicago and an avid runner. I regularly participate in 5K charity events and recently completed the Flying Pig and Indianapolis Monumental Marathons. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and two young kids—they keep me grounded and in shape.