Sierra Smucker

Policy Researcher

Santa Monica Office

Education

Ph.D. in public policy analysis, Duke University; M.Sc. in social policy research, London School of Economics

One Page Bio

Overview

Sierra Smucker (she/her) is a policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. Her research focuses on family health and wellbeing and protecting families' most vulnerable members. To that end, Smucker works in a range of topic areas including gun violence and substance misuse prevention, and domestic violence intervention and policy publishing in academic and practitioner focused outlets. Smucker is currently leading a study to develop a tool to help first responders identify the dominant aggressor in relationships with violence. In the last year, she published an initial evaluation of an innovative model to address elder abuse which incorporates shelter as well as healthcare, legal services, and social support. A leading expert in domestic violence and firearm policies, Smucker also studies the ways state policies impact rates of homicide and suicide linked with family violence and has published multiple studies about gun violence. She recently led the development and maintenance of the RAND State Firearm Law database which is held as one of the premiere databases for firearm policy analysis.

Smucker holds a degree in American history from Occidental College and an M.Sc. in social policy from the London School of Economics. She earned her Ph.D. from Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy.

Research Focus

Selected Publications

Smucker, Sierra, Esther M. Friedman, Meagan Cahill, Jirka Taylor, John Daly, Regina A. Shih, An Initial Evaluation of the Weinberg Center for Elder Justice’s Shelter Model for Elder Abuse and Mistreatment, RAND, 2021

Whitaker, Laura, Sierra Smucker, and Stephanie Brooks Holliday, Whitaker, Laura, Sierra Smucker, and Stephanie Brooks Holliday, A Gap Analysis of the Los Angeles County Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act Portfolio, RAND Corporation (RR-A1663-1), 2022

Smucker, S., Pedersen, E. R., LaBrie, J. W., D’Amico, E. J., Farris, C., Klein, D. J., & Griffin, B. A., "There and back again…safely: Examining students’ reports of substance use and sexual assault prevention program receipt prior to departure abroad.," Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, 2019 (forthcoming)

Smucker, Meadows, and Beckman, "Use of Electronic Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products among Active Component Services Members. Military Medicine ," Military Medicine (Forthcoming), 2023 (forthcoming)

Smucker, Sierra, Eric R. Pedersen, and Terri Tanielian, "Improving Behavioral Health Care Access and Treatment Options for Veterans with Co-Occurring Behavioral Health Problems," RAND Working Paper, 2019

Sierra Smucker, Rose E. Kerber, Philip J. Cook , "Suicide and Additional Homicides Associated with Intimate Partner Homicide: North Carolina 2004–2013," Journal of Urban Health, 2018

Commentary

Crime and Violence Prevention

Protecting the Elderly from Financial Exploitation
Older adults are more vulnerable to scams and more likely to have money and assets than their younger counterparts of the same race/ethnicity. Policy solutions that provide protection against financial fraud could help older adults to live more financially stable lives.
Oct 14, 2021
The RAND Blog
Homeless Populations

Unaccompanied Women Become an Official Homeless Subpopulation in LA County
Unaccompanied homeless women are more likely than other subgroups to be chronically homeless, to have mental illness, and to have work limitations. Los Angeles County is now recognizing these women as a subgroup in the official homeless count. An assessment will also be conducted to identify this group's unique needs.
Nov 23, 2020
The RAND Blog
Domestic Violence

After COVID-19: Prevent Homelessness Among Survivors of Domestic Abuse
Without assistance, domestic violence survivors are more likely to be forced into homelessness. Now could be the time to invest in programs that help victims—before a second wave of COVID-19 cases pushes more families into unsafe environments.
Jul 2, 2020
The RAND Blog

Publications

Research Brief
The Weinberg Center's Elder Abuse Shelter Model: Ready for Impact Evaluation
RAND researchers conducted a formative evaluation and evaluability assessment of the Weinberg Center’s Elder Abuse Shelter (EAS) in New York and designed three rigorous studies to test the impact of the EAS model.
Mar 23, 2023
Report
Evaluability Assessment and Evaluation Options for an Elder Abuse Shelter Model
RAND researchers conducted a formative evaluation and evaluability assessment of the Weinberg Center's EAS in New York and designed three rigorous studies to test the impact of the Elder Abuse Shelter (EAS) model.
Mar 23, 2023
Report
America's Opioid Ecosystem: How Leveraging System Interactions Can Help Curb Addiction, Overdose, and Other Harms
Patterns and consequences of opioid use are changing dramatically. Researchers provide a nuanced assessment of America's opioid ecosystem, highlighting how leveraging system interactions can reduce addiction, overdose, suffering, and other harms.
Mar 16, 2023
Visualization
The Ecosystem Approach to Opioid Policy
RAND researchers created a tool to help federal, state, and local policymakers better understand issues surrounding opioids as an ecosystem—and explore innovative policy ideas.
Mar 16, 2023
Report
The Science of Gun Policy: A Critical Synthesis of Research Evidence on the Effects of Gun Policies in the United States, Third Edition
This report, now in its third edition, synthesizes the available scientific evidence for the effects of various firearm policies on firearm deaths, violent crime, the gun industry, defensive gun use, and other outcomes.
Jan 10, 2023
Journal Article
Development and Pilot Test of Criteria Defining Best Practices for Organizational Sexual Assault Prevention
This study describes the development of the Prevention Evaluation Framework, an assessment targeting organizational best practices for comprehensive sexual assault prevention across multiple domains.
Oct 19, 2022
Tool
Using National Instant Criminal Background Check Data for Gun Policy Analysis: A Discussion of Available Data and Their Limitations
In this tool, researchers provide detailed information about data associated with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System and discuss the data's strengths and weaknesses for various gun policy evaluation objectives.
Sep 8, 2022
Report
Diversity in U.S. Military Families: An Environmental Scan of the Peer-Reviewed Literature on Race and Ethnic Variation for Select Well-Being Outcomes
Researchers explore the literature on race and ethnicity in relation to U.S. military service member well-being in the areas of mental health, behavioral health, family violence, marital satisfaction, and financial stress.
Jul 1, 2022
Tool
Development of the RAND State Firearm Law Database and Supporting Materials
Part of RAND's Gun Policy in America initiative, the RAND State Firearm Law Database is a longitudinal data set of state firearm laws that is free to the public to support improved analysis and understanding of the effects of various laws.
Jun 28, 2022
Tool
Getting To Outcomes® Handbook for Strengthening Sexual Assault Prevention Activities in the Military
This web-based Getting To Outcomes handbook and PDF for offline use provide streamlined instructions and resources to help with the planning, implementation, evaluation, and sustainability of military sexual assault prevention activities.
Jun 20, 2022
Report
Recommended Standards for Delivering High-Quality Care to Veterans with Invisible Wounds
The authors identified ten standards for the delivery of high-quality care for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, substance use disorders, and mild traumatic brain injury.
May 9, 2022
Research Brief
Setting Standards for Delivering High-Quality Care to Veterans with Invisible Wounds
RAND researchers identified ten standards for the delivery of high-quality care for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, substance use disorders, and mild traumatic brain injury.
May 9, 2022
Infographic
Empowering Domestic Violence Survivors Within the Family Courts
This infographic accompanies a tool that supports the implementation of an empowerment-based domestic violence program within a family court setting.
Jan 6, 2022
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Tool
Empowerment-Based Domestic Violence Programming Within a Family Court Setting: An Implementation Guide
This guide supports the implementation of an empowerment-based domestic violence program within a family court setting. It was developed to share the best practices learned during an evaluation of the Safe Horizon Family Court organization.
Jan 6, 2022
Report
A Gap Analysis of the Los Angeles County Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act Portfolio
This report presents findings from a gap analysis, which examined the extent to which best practices for juvenile justice systems are considered in funding decisions for Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act–funded programs in Los Angeles County.
Jan 4, 2022
Report
Healthy Relationship Approaches to Sexual Assault Prevention: Programs and Strategies for Use Within the U.S. Military
This guide provides prevention teams and leaders with an overview of a healthy relationship approach to sexual assault prevention, why it could be an effective tool, and strategies for implementing a program as part of their prevention portfolio.
May 13, 2021
Research Brief
A Unique Shelter for Older Adults Experiencing Abuse Offers Potential Cost Savings and Other Benefits
This brief describes the model of the Weinberg Center (the nation's first elder-specific shelter), examines some client outcomes, and begins to quantify the model's costs and benefits for older adults experiencing abuse or mistreatment.
May 10, 2021
Report
An Initial Evaluation of the Weinberg Center for Elder Justice's Shelter Model for Elder Abuse and Mistreatment
The authors describe the model of the Weinberg Center (the nation's first elder-specific shelter), examine some client outcomes, and begin to quantify the model's costs and benefits for individuals experiencing elder abuse or mistreatment.
May 10, 2021
Research Brief
Harassment and Discrimination in the FEMA Workplace: Topline Results from the Workplace Survey Support Study
This brief summarizes findings and recommendations from a study of the prevalence and characteristics of sexual harassment, gender discrimination, racial/ethnic harassment, and racial/ethnic discrimination at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Dec 2, 2020
Report
Harassment and Discrimination on the Basis of Gender and Race/Ethnicity in the FEMA Workforce
Researchers assessed the prevalence and characteristics of sexual harassment, gender discrimination, racial/ethnic harassment, and racial/ethnic discrimination at FEMA. This report documents the survey results.
Dec 2, 2020
Research Brief
Guidance for Organizations That Support the Behavioral Health of Post-9/11 Veterans
This brief highlights important treatment, provider, and system factors that organizations that support the behavioral health needs of veterans with co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health disorders should consider.
Jul 22, 2020
Report
Improving Substance Use Care: Addressing Barriers to Expanding Integrated Treatment Options for Post-9/11 Veterans
This report provides guidance and recommendations to support the delivery of quality care for veterans with co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health disorders.
Jul 22, 2020
Research Brief
Strategies to Improve Treatment for Post-9/11 Veterans with Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders
This brief describes how treatment facilities could improve their care of veterans with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders and address barriers to care for such veterans.
Jul 22, 2020
Journal Article
The State of the Science in Opioid Policy Research
The rigor of study design varies notably across policy categories, highlighting the need for broader adoption of rigorous methods in opioid policy research.
Jul 7, 2020
Report
The Science of Gun Policy: A Critical Synthesis of Research Evidence on the Effects of Gun Policies in the United States, Second Edition
This report, the second edition of an earlier work, synthesizes the available scientific evidence for the effects of various firearm policies on firearm deaths, violent crime, the gun industry, defensive gun use, and other outcomes.
Apr 22, 2020
Draft
Improving Behavioral Health Care Access and Treatment Options for Veterans with Co-Occurring Behavioral Health Problems
Reviews the research on co-occurring behavioral health problems and treatments among veterans and outlines several recommendations for improving veterans' access and expanding their treatment options.
Oct 29, 2019