Dr. Gordon Bazemore
The Research Award was formerly named in the memory of Dr. Gordon Bazemore. As NACRJ continues to reflect on how we recognize leadership and contribution, we have shifted toward award names that center collective impact while still honoring those who helped shape the field. Dr. Bazemore’s contributions to research and restorative justice remain an important part of NACRJ’s history.
Dr. Bazemore began his work with restorative justice in the early 1990s. From 1997-2007, he directed the Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) Project, which was among the first to integrate restorative justice philosophy into juvenile justice systems across the country.
Gordon was a prolific and visionary writer, publishing three co-authored books and over 100 academic journal articles and book chapters focused on juvenile and restorative justice. Gordon was a faculty member at Florida Atlantic University's School of Public Administration and later the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, where he served as Director for six years. In 2013, Gordon was the first recipient of the NACRJ’s Lifetime Achievement Award.