Bringing together researchers and case studies from around Europe, this book examines the potential of action research as a methodology in criminal justice settings, asking what we can learn from its various applications in diverse settings.

Introduction: ALTERNATIVE understandings of justice and security through restorative justice approaches, Inge Vanfraechem, 1. Action research in intercultural settings and restorative justice: setting the scene, Ivo Aertsen, 2. Visualizing action research in the ALTERNATIVE context, Ida Hydle, 3. Participatory filming as part of action research in ALTERNATIVE: Experiences from four countries, Dóra Szego, 4. Getting involved and remaining distant: On action research in Vienna, Katrin Kremmel and Christa Pelikan, 5. Turning resistance to cooperation: Action research in Hungary, Dóra Szego, Gabriella Benedek and Éva Gyorfi, 6. Conflicts, victimisation and restorative justice in intercultural settings: An example of action research in Serbia, Vesna Nikolic-Ristanovic, Sanja Copic, Nikola Petrovic and Bejan Šaciri, 7. Working across frontiers: Community based restorative justice in Northern Ireland, Tim Chapman, Hugh Campbell, Derick Wilson and Philip McCready, 8. Qualitative comparative analysis, Mario Ragazzi, Conclusion: Action research through restorative justice, Inge Vanfraechem and Ivo Aertsen

Inge Vanfraechem is affiliated researcher at the KU Leuven Institute of Criminology, where she has worked for many years as senior researcher and co-promoter on national and European projects with regards to restorative justice. She also runs her own business in consultancy and research (Libra).

Ivo Aertsen is Full Professor of Criminology at the University of Leuven and leads the Leuven Institute of Criminology Research Line on 'Restorative Justice and Victimology'. His main fields of research and teaching are victimology, penology and restorative justice. He is Editor-in-Chief of Restorative Justice: An International Journal. He was the academic coordinator of the European FP7 project ALTERNATIVE.