I am Denise Smith, LCSW-C, the founder and lead consultant of Smith Consulting Group, LLC (SCG), a firm based in Baltimore, Maryland that specializes in clinical and forensic social work services. With over 20 years of experience in forensic social work and mitigation, I have devoted my career to advocating for individuals entangled in the criminal justice system. My primary focus is on post-conviction clients and those facing life-altering sentences. I am committed to providing support that extends beyond legal defense, addressing the root causes of criminal behavior and advocating for a more compassionate and just approach to sentencing.

In addition to my work at SCG, I am deeply involved in the education and professional development of future social workers and mitigation specialists. I serve as a forensic field education instructor with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender and a field education liaison with the University of Maryland School of Social Work. My belief in social justice and second chances drives me to not only assist my clients but also to mentor the next generation of social workers and mitigation specialists. My dedication to the field was acknowledged when I was selected as University of Maryland School of Social Work Field Instructor of the Year in 2018 and elected Chair of the National Alliance of Sentencing Advocates and Mitigation Specialists (NASAMS) Executive Committee in 2023.