Current Scholarship

 

My research and applied interests are focused broadly on conflict and restorative approaches to conflict, especially racial conflict. Since 2009, I have been particularly interested in a restorative practice developed in Brazil by Dominic Barter and associates called Restorative Circles (RC). A brief description of RC and links to some recent papers are available here. My current research is mostly focused on developing and evaluating the implementation of different restorative practices using a combination of survey and qualitative methods in order to (a) improve implementation and (b) better understand the individual and group-level changes associated with a transition to responding to conflict and norm/rule violations restoratively rather than punitively. I work in a variety of contexts, including the criminal justice system, the education system, organizations, and communities. I also have a long-standing interest (going back to my years as a graduate student in the 1990s) in race and racial dynamics, including identity development, group relations, and beliefs about in-groups and out-groups in both immigrant and minority populations. More information about both current and previous projects can be viewed by navigating the links on the left.