Links

Curriculum Vitae

LinkedIn

Child Sexual Abuse Reduction Research Network (CSARRN)

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Biography

Kathryn C. Seigfried-Spellar, PhD, MA, is a professor in the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University. She is a renowned expert in the psychosocial and technological factors associated with cybercriminal behavior, specifically on the criminological characteristics and grooming strategies of online child sex offenders. Her research intersects multiple fields, including the behavioral sciences, social sciences, artificial intelligence, biometrics, natural language processing, and digital forensics.

Dr. Seigfried-Spellar works extensively with law enforcement agencies worldwide, conducting research on sensitive operational data and providing trainings related to vicarious trauma and online investigations. She is a Fellow and Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Vicarious Trauma and the former Chair of the Digital and Multimedia Sciences section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts.

Finally, she was a co-founder of the Child Sexual Abuse Reduction Research Network (CSARRN), a yearly workshop that brings leading researchers and thought leaders together to share their work, foster new collaborations, and develop unified solutions to better address child sexual abuse.

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Current Research

• Grooming strategies of online child sexual exploitation and abuse offenders
• Knuckle and fingernail bed biometrics
• Behavioral analysis of digital forensic evidence
• Mental health & well-being of forensic science professionals

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Areas of Expertise

• Cybercriminal behavior
• Online child sexual exploitation and abuse
• Behavioral analysis of digital evidence
• Vicarious trauma and psychological well-being

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Selected Publications

Hughes-Wegner, A.T., DeMark, M.R., Seigfried-Spellar, K.C., & DeMaria, A.L. (2024). Empowering Salon Professionals: A Needs Assessment to Understand Training Preferences and Strategies for Addressing Sex Trafficking and Violence. Journal of Human Trafficking.

Soldino, V. & Seigfried-Spellar, K.C. (2024). Criminological differences between contact and online-focused suspects in online child sexual grooming police reports. Child Abuse & Neglect.

Ringenberg, T.R., Seigfried-Spellar, K.C., & Rayz, J.T. (2024). Assessing differences in grooming stages and strategies in decoy, victim, and law enforcement conversations. Computers & Human Behavior. Advanced Online Publication.

Wilson, N., & Seigfried-Spellar, K.C. (2023). Cybervictimization, Social, and Financial Strains Influence Internet Trolling Behaviors: A General Strain Theory Perspective. Social Science Computer Review.

Ringenberg, T., Seigfried-Spellar, K.C., & Rayz, J. (2024). Are You a Cop? Avoiding Suspicion in Internet Stings with Online Groomers. Proceedings of the 1st Annual Child Sexual Abuse Reduction Research Network Workshop (CSARRN). Child Abuse and Neglect. 154. Advance Online Publication.

Seigfried-Spellar, K.C., Rogers, M.K., Matulis, N., & Heasley, J. (2024). Testing a hybrid risk assessment model: Predicting CSAM offender risk from digital forensic artifacts. Proceedings of the 1st Annual Child Sexual Abuse Reduction Research Network Workshop (CSARRN). Child Abuse and Neglect. 154. Advance Online Publication.

Santopietro, M., Guest, R., Seigfried-Spellar, K.C., & Elliott, S. (2024). A Multi-factor Knuckle and Nail bed Verification Tool for Forensic Imagery Analysis. Proceedings of the 1st Annual Child Sexual Abuse Reduction Research Network Workshop (CSARRN). Child Abuse and Neglect. 154. Advance Online Publication.

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