Research
The National Center on Restorative Justice supports an interdisciplinary, community-engaged approach to research that bridges the research-practice gap, empowers diverse voices, and grows the next generation of restorative justice researchers.
Restorative Justice Research Community (RJRC)
Research on restorative justice is essential in helping to establish impact-driven, healing-centered approaches to accountability that address inequities, advance positive outcomes, and strengthen communities. However, restorative justice research is often disconnected from practice and often lacks interdisciplinary approaches.
To address this reality, the NCORJ launched the Restorative Justice Research Community (RJRC). The RJRC is a constellation of activities focused on understanding the current state of restorative justice research and its relationship with practice, building capacity for practitioners to co-create a research agenda, and supporting multidisciplinary academic-community partnerships. RJRC activities are managed by a steering committee.
Steering Committee
The RJRC steering committee is a research-practice partnership (RPP) between the Ahimsa Collective, Equal Justice USA, and the University of Vermont. Using an emergent approach, the partners develop and advance a community-engaged research agenda focused on fostering connections and creativity to advance restorative justice research and bridge the research-practice gap.
Steering Committee Members
Sandra Rodriguez, The Ahimsa Collective
Cymone Fuller, Equal Justice USA
Abby Crocker, The University of Vermont
Community-Based Research Network (CBRN)
A series of projects designed to elevate the practitioner voice in research. These activities focus on practitioners’ real-world experiences as essential expertise in creating knowledge that is relevant, applicable, and actionable within the contexts where it matters most. Using an interdisciplinary lens, grounded in the values of community-engaged research, these projects seek to explore foundational challenges in the field, such as describing what restorative justice looks like in practice, understanding the conditions and contexts in which these practices thrive, and shifting the narrative on outcomes to focus on measures that matter.
Research Fellows
A cohort of academic researchers who are supported to engage in a series of facilitated roundtable discussions focused on topics and readings relevant to conducting research in the field of restorative justice. Discussions are designed to build relationships among traditionally siloed academics, offer opportunities for academics to engage with their local impacted communities, and provide time and space for deep engagement and reflection on current challenges and opportunities with conducting restorative justice research.
Community Gathering
A biennial, in-person working session focused on building and strengthening relationships to grow the field of restorative justice research. These events are designed to foster dialogue and collaboration among a diverse set of stakeholders and explore the interconnectedness of restorative justice research. We seek to explore emerging trends, innovative approaches, and critical gaps in research, with the goal of advancing knowledge and promoting meaningful social change.
The research arm of the NCORJ is administered by the University of Vermont (UVM). Learn more about UVM’s research.