Christi Smith

Christi Smith

Resident Senior Fellow, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

About Christi

Christi M. Smith is a resident senior fellow for Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties. She uses research to inform, advocate, and guide criminal justice reform and the advancement of policy directives.

Prior to joining R Street, she was an assistant professor and academic director for the undergraduate and graduate criminal justice programs at Delaware Valley University. In this capacity, she was responsible for academic instruction, student advising, outcomes assessment, adjunct instructor hiring, onboarding and evaluation, in addition to serving on multiple campus committees. Her career in academia spans nearly two decades, including serving as an adjunct instructor while establishing a successful career as an adult probation and parole officer in Chester and Bucks Counties (Pennsylvania). Christi specialized as a drug court officer, interstate compact officer, intern supervisor, forensic mental health officer and a domestic violence investigator. She joined Rosemont College in 2013 as an academic program director and was hired as a full-time faculty member by Delaware Valley University in 2014. Since 2014, she has been the recipient of three faculty awards and developed, launched and oversaw the master of arts degree in criminal justice.

Christi is also an executive committee member of the Bucks County Reentry Coalition and the H.E.A.L. PA Criminal Justice Action Team.

She holds the following awards:

  • Delaware Valley University Athletic Department Faculty Award of Recognition, 2020
  • Alumni Council: Faculty Recognition Award, Oct. 12, 2019
  • Most Valuable Professor, Delaware Valley University, football team, April 2018

Christi received a doctorate in public safety with a specialization in criminal justice from Capella University. She also earned her master’s degree in criminal justice from West Chester University and her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Delaware Valley College.

She lives in Hatfield, Pa with her husband, Brad, and their two young children, Hannah and Lukas. They enjoy traveling in their RV with their two cats, Ziva-Gracie and Astrid, and their elderly dog, Chloe.

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Research from Christi

Commentary from Christi

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