John Lea

Who is John Lea?

John Lea is a left realist criminologist based at the Crime and Conflict Research Centre, Middlesex University in the United Kingdom.

He graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London with a BSc in Economics in 1967, before gaining MSc's in Economics and Social Policy there too.

Lea was one of the key founders of the left realist approach alongside Jock Young, Roger Matthews, Richard Kinsey and Geoff Pearson, Collaborating with Jock Young on What is to be Done About Law and Order? and with Richard KInsey and Jock Young on Losing the Fight Against Crime.

He is currently Professor of Criminology at Middlesex University, where his research interests include policing, organised crime, business crime and the historical development of crime and criminal justice institutions.