Tackling restorative justice through graduate applied research

Leveraging work-integrated learning to support restorative practices in preventing radicalization and strengthening social cohesion with Community Justice Initiatives.

When Stacey Colliver (she/her) first stepped into the role of researcher on a project to explore restorative justice and radicalization, it marked a pivotal moment. It was a conversion of her academic career and professional experience. With her experience working with Community Justice Initiatives (CJI) in Waterloo Region, Colliver was uniquely positioned to tackle one of Canada’s most pressing issues: the growing polarization in society and its links to radicalization.

“The point of the research project is to investigate whether or not restorative justice can be used in either the prevention of, or response to, social polarization and radicalization to violence,” says Colliver.

The research project, supported by a Mitacs research grant and Public Safety Canada, combines academic inquiry and community-based action. Colliver is exploring whether restorative justice principles can be applied proactively to prevent radicalization and foster social cohesion, as well as how restorative processes can be useful in the aftermath of harm caused by hate or violent extremism.

Bridging gaps through applied research

Colliver began her work with a literature review of studies from around the world that explored how restorative justice approaches have been used to address hate crimes and polarization.

“A lot of the literature I'm pulling is from other countries. There's more significant work being done in Ireland, for example around using restorative justice in this way,” says Colliver. “There's some limited research from a Canadian perspective or an American perspective on using restorative justice in response to hate crime.”

For Colliver, the project exemplifies how academia can drive social innovation through community collaboration. Her academic expertise can help inform future program development, while the organization’s on-the-ground experience enriches her research. For instance, part of her research grew from existing work with CJI’s Sulah program. The program works with individuals who have experienced identity-based harm.

“They’re already engaging with people in the community who are navigating the aftermath of hate incidents,” says Colliver. “It’s about people and communities coming together to address harm and prevent future conflict.”

As the project progresses, Colliver sees its potential to inform public policy and contribute to broader societal change. She also works separately for the Canadian Centre for Safer Communities to assist communities with their community safety and well-being plans.

"What I love about having done my PhD is that I feel like that process has given me the skills to work in non-profit,” says Colliver. “I love doing frontline work, but it's also hard and it takes a certain personality to do that kind of work long term. I think the great part about going back to school and gaining these research skills through the Mitacs grant, as well as just through my dissertation, has been that now when I'm thinking about what I'm doing in nonprofit, it's more on the research evaluation impact side of the work.”

Colliver’s work demonstrates the University of Waterloo’s commitment to applied research through Graduate Work-Integrated Learning (GradWIL). Applied research, like Colliver’s, shows how academic inquiry can meet community needs and drive solutions to complex social challenges.