Navigating Ethical Issues of Photo-Based Research from Sociological and Documentary Perspectives

Incorporating photographs into research on crime and justice can be a valuable tool for those who seek to understand the lives of those who engage in crime and drug use. Using photographs requires researchers to be aware of the ethical issues when incorporating and publishing images in public works. Our aim in this chapter is to discuss some of these ethical (and practical) issues that emerge when including photographs in research about crime and justice. Specifically, we discuss issues such as obtaining informed consent, empowering participants, and portraying people in ways that facilitate reflection and change. We rely on our prior work using photographs to study those who use drugs (e.g., methamphetamine and peyote) in rural Alabama to inform our discussion.