Research in Action: Developing Networks for Evidence Based Socio-Legal Research
Project description
Developing the capacity to conduct evidence-based socio-legal research is fundamental to our overall Research in Action program. Historically, issues of civil justice have been subordinated to criminal justice in terms of investment, research and media attention. During the last decade there has been a growing international recognition of the fundamental importance of civil justice systems. As interest in civil justice systems has increased, so has awareness of the need for high quality evidence-based socio-legal research. There is a lack of socio-legal research capacity, both within Canada and internationally, especially in the many areas of non-criminal social research.
In recognition of this need, the Law Foundation of British Columbia provided funding for a pilot project aimed at developing networks for evidence-based social research about systems of justice and related legal issues. Ultimately this project is intended to support our Research in Action program by developing a national network of socio-legal researchers. Although the Forum mandate concerns civil justice, we are aware that the need to increase socio-legal research capacity extends also to administrative and criminal justice areas. We therefore welcome researchers focusing on any of these legal areas to participate in the socio-legal network events and database.
The project aims are to raise awareness of the importance of evidence-based research to inform justice policy and programming and to bring together academic, private, community and government researchers and organizations interested in commissioning or collaborating in research about justice systems and related issues.
Our goals are three-fold:
- To increase knowledge about the possibilities of ground breaking research related to justice systems and social context issues.
- To plant the seeds for a local network between the justice community and capable social researchers.
- To establish a database of social researchers with skills and interest in conducting law-related research of all kinds. The database interface will also post research opportunities that become available.
Project activities
- We have developed a document, Research Priorities and Potentials
, that describes current priorities for socio-legal research identified by the Forum. Other potential areas of socio-legal research are described. This document, which is periodically updated, also provides a description of our orientation to research. - During August 2007, to further our project goal of developing socio-legal research networks, we held a series of four Research in Action workshops in British Columbia. Events in Vancouver, Victoria, Prince George and Kelowna brought together academics and justice community members interested in social research about justice issues. These workshops generated strong interest and support for establishing local and national networks to support interests in socio-legal research. Our report on these workshop activities is available.
- We have begun a Directory of socio-legal researchers and justice community members with an interest in collaborating in relevant research initiatives.
- We are now seeking funding to hold network building Research in Action workshops across Canada. We also continue to raise awareness of the importance of evidence-based socio-legal research in conjunction with other Forum projects and activities.
- We held a follow-up workshop as part of the Community-University Exposition in Victoria, May 4-7, 2008. (Event Program)