Paula Smith, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati. She previously served as the Director of the UC Corrections Institute and is currently a Fellow at the Center for Criminal Justice Research at UC and the Forensic Psychology Research Centre at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada.
Her research interests include the assessment of offender treatment and deterrence programs, the development of risk and needs assessments for clinicians and managers in prisons and community corrections including co-authoring the EPICS model, and evaluating the application of the RNR model to special populations. Her research has recently focused on identifying offenders at high risk for institutional adjustment problems and developing an intervention curriculum for inmates in restrictive housing. In addition, she has directed numerous state and federal research projects and has been directly involved in evaluations of more than 400 correctional programs.
Beyond her research experience, Dr. Smith has vast experience with the delivery of service to offenders. She has trained practitioners in across the United States as well as in Singapore, Scotland, New Zealand, and Canada and has co-authored several treatment manuals targeting inmates in restrictive housing and sex offenders. In her local community, she proudly serves on the Advisory Board for Hillcrest Academy, a residential program for juveniles in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Dr. Paula Smith is a scholar of consequence who uses her knowledge to create a better and more effective correctional system.