معرفی
Dr Rivka Smith is a Research Fellow at the School of Law, University of Sheffield, where she has held research and teaching roles since 2015. Her interdisciplinary work bridges criminology, socio-legal studies, and public health, with specialized expertise in policing practices and qualitative methodologies. As co-chair of the Sheffield University Policing Research Group (SUPRG), she actively fosters academic-practitioner collaboration with South Yorkshire Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner's Office.
Smith's educational background includes:
- PhD from the University of Sheffield
- MSc in Policing Research from Canterbury Christ Church University
- LLB in Law and Criminology from the University of Sheffield
Her research critically examines the intersection of law enforcement and public health (LEPH), focusing on police mental health triage schemes ('Street Triage'), vulnerabilities in criminal justice systems, and multi-agency partnerships. She employs rigorous qualitative methods to analyze the implementation and impact of policing innovations, particularly regarding mental health crises and drug-related offenses. Current work emphasizes how evidence-based interventions can reduce systemic costs while improving detainee welfare.
Smith has received significant recognition including:
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2019)
- Paul McKeever Policing Scholarship (2014)
- Eve Cohen Evidence Prize (2013)
- Centre for Criminological Research Prize (2014)
Her research portfolio demonstrates consistent success in securing competitive funding, including Cabinet Office Evaluation Accelerator Fund support for the 'Police-led Drugs Diversion' project and ESRC backing for the 'Good Police Custody Study'. These projects involve complex process evaluations of police diversion schemes and custody practices, directly informing national policy. Smith actively mentors students through undergraduate teaching in Criminal Process and Police and Policing modules while contributing to SUPRG's knowledge exchange initiatives.
Smith maintains strong institutional ties through the Centre for Criminological Research and professional networks including The Global Association of Law Enforcement and Public Health, The Society of Evidence-Based Policing, and The British Society of Criminology. Her SUPRG leadership role coordinates collaborative research between academic experts and operational policing units across South Yorkshire.
