Cindy J. Smith
associate professor
Division of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Forensic Studies
B.S., Baldwin-Wallace College
M.S., National University
M.S., American University
Ph.D., University of California, Irvine
410.837.6087
cjsmith@ubalt.edu
The fact that most released prisoners are worse when they come out of the prison system than when they go in has prompted me to investigate this phenomenon. Almost all of these offenders will re-enter society, and a large percentage will return to crime if we don't do something. Does the United States have the answer? Do all countries do it this way? These questions have motivated me to examine the issues on an international level.
Currently, my passion is international research. My research agenda is varied, but the connection between most of my projects is program development and evaluation. How do theory, implementation and evaluation inform program development and refinement in the international arena?
Examining comparative research methods has considerably broadened my understanding of research methods. It's clear that our research has been inadequate. I have conducted evaluation research on juveniles and adults, drug users and abusers, sex offenders and prison work programs to add to our body of knowledge in this area.
For two years, I took leave from the University to serve as the chief of the International Center at the National Institute of Justice, the research, development and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice—dedicated to researching crime control and justice issues. In this capacity, I headed the international research agenda.
I have served as an official delegate for the American Society of Criminology's Division of International Criminology (a nongovernmental organization in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council); the United Nations Alliance of Non-Governmental Organizations in New York; the Crime Commission in Vienna, Austria; and the International Scientific and Professional Advisory Council in Courmayeur, Italy. These affiliations take me overseas at least twice each year, and the value of seeing how others tackle similar problems is irreplaceable.