Summary
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Shenk and Zehr examine principles and practices of research or âknowingâ? in light of basic principles of restorative justice. In a traditional approach to research, the researcher is the objective expert who gathers essential data to discover truth and determine meaning (where truth and meaning are also considered to be objective). Critiques from various movements have faulted this approach as being unaware of its own fundamental and biasing perspectives, and as disenfranchising the subjects under study. Shenk and Zehr apply a similar critique to the traditional criminal justice system and its pursuit of âknowledgeâ? or âtruthâ? through its processes. They argue that restorative justice leads to a transformative approach to research or âknowingâ? that respects and empowers the stakeholders involved in and affected by the events and processes.
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