About

Dr. Kathryn C. Seigfried-Spellar is a Professor in the cyberforensics program within the Department of Computer and Information Technology at Purdue University. She holds a PhD in Technology with a concentration in Cyberforensics and Psychology, an MA in Forensic Psychology, and a BA in Psychology, Law and Society. She is recognized internationally as an expert in the psychosocial and technological factors associated with cybercriminal behavior, with a specific focus on the criminological characteristics and grooming strategies of online child sex offenders. Dr. Seigfried-Spellar has received numerous awards and honors, including the 2022-2023 Fulbright Scholar Award for her research in Spain, the 2022 Outstanding Early Career Achievement in Forensic Science Award from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and the 2023 Jefferson Award. She is a Fellow and Chair of the Digital and Multimedia Sciences section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and a member of several professional organizations such as the American Psychological Association and the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts. Her research encompasses a broad range of topics related to cybercrime, digital forensics, and online behavior, contributing significantly to the understanding and investigation of cybercriminal activities, especially those involving child exploitation and grooming strategies.

Selected publications

• “Like a frog boiling in water”: A qualitative analysis of stress, vicarious trauma, and mental health among forensic sciences professionals

  Forensic Science International Synergy · 2026-04-24

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Forensic science professionals play a crucial role in the criminal justice system, but due to the nature of forensic science careers, exposure to traumatic material and occupational stressors remains common within the profession. The impacts of these aspects of the career field are not negligible, with prior research suggesting that forensic science professionals experience various forms of psychological distress, including but not limited to burnout, post-traumatic stress disorder, secondary traumatic stress, and vicarious trauma. The present study sought to analyze open-ended responses to survey questions from forensic science professionals ( N = 223) to better understand their experiences of occupational stressors and mental health. Using a qualitative approach, the results highlight several insights into stress and mental health among forensic science professionals. First, sources of stress are not limited to occupational stressors, and stressors may compound on one another. Second, the impact of stress has negative psychological outcomes, at times leading to both positive and negative coping mechanisms. Said coping mechanisms reflect not only stressors and the psychological impact of work, but also barriers to help-seeking behaviors, as well as the role of stigma for forensic science professionals seeking mental health assistance. We conclude with discussions of policy implementations, drawing from the perspectives of respondents. • Qualitative analysis identified four central themes of stress in forensic work. • Coping and help-seeking were shaped by stigma, barriers, and workplace culture. • Stressors were multidimensional, spanning occupational, case, and life domains. • Findings inform policy needs for qualified mental health support in forensic settings.

  PublisherDOI

• Voices Behind the Chair: Training Needs in Addressing Sex Trafficking and Intimate Partner Violence Among Indiana Salon Professionals

  Journal of Interpersonal Violence · 2025-03-18

  articleSenior authorCorresponding

  Human trafficking, encompassing sex trafficking and forced labor, is a global issue often linked with intimate partner violence (IPV). Existing support systems for these vulnerable populations remain insufficient. This study explores the pivotal role of salon professionals within communities as trusted figures, aiming to develop targeted programs that empower them to prevent and respond to violence among their clients effectively. Written responses from 334 salon professionals across Indiana who completed a web-based survey were analyzed for demographic data, experiences with violence victims, and preferences for intervention training. Thematic analysis of open-ended survey responses provided nuanced insights into professionals' perspectives on intervention strategies and direct encounters with violence victims. Narrative analysis revealed four main themes: salon professionals' encounters with victims of IPV, salon professionals' encounters with victims of sex trafficking, proposed intervention strategies, including awareness campaigns and partnerships with support organizations, and strong support for mandatory training to enhance their ability to assist victims effectively. Findings indicate high awareness among participants of encountering victims of IPV (91.3%) and sex trafficking (88.3%) in their salons. Professionals demonstrated varied approaches to identifying and intervening with victims, highlighting the need for enhanced communication and intervention skills training. Participants overwhelmingly supported mandatory training initiatives, emphasizing the importance of creating safe environments and collaborating with law enforcement and support organizations to assist victims effectively. Salon professionals are crucial frontline responders in identifying and addressing violence, advocating for enhanced training in communication and client assistance protocols. Collaboration with law enforcement and community organizations is essential for effective victim support. Implementing these insights into policy can empower salon professionals to enhance client safety and strengthen societal responses to violence and exploitation, necessitating stakeholder action to support these recommendations.

  PublisherDOI

• A behavioral health needs assessment and general psychological well‐being of digital and multimedia forensic examiners

  Journal of Forensic Sciences · 2025-10-31 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Research shows that digital forensic examiners experience high stress levels due to the nature of their jobs involving exposure to disturbing media. This study conducted a needs analysis by examining digital and multimedia forensic examiners' psychological well-being, coping mechanisms, social support, and attitudes toward and experiences with barriers to counseling and mental health support. Ninety-four digital and multimedia forensic examiners (DFE) completed the anonymous online survey. Respondents were also asked to self-report their primary duty within digital forensics (e.g., image, audio, or video analysts) and whether they were also working as an investigator/detective; 53 were DFE-only, and 41 had dual roles (DFE + detective). Results examined differences in primary duties (e.g., image vs. non-image analyst) and the number of primary duties (e.g., two vs. three). Of the sample, 36% personally sought counseling due to work-related stress. Image forensic analysts reported more psychological distress and barriers toward help-seeking compared with audio and video analysts. 17% (n = 16) of the sample met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. There were no significant differences between DFE-only and those working dual roles as detectives on psychological well-being and attitudes toward mental health support. Finally, digital forensic examiners who met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD reported 9 out of 15 mental health stigmas, many of which included fear associated with agency culture (e.g., "affect my promotion"). Findings support the need for accessible, agency-supported, and potentially mandated mental health services for DFE to improve well-being and resiliency.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Assessing vicarious trauma and attitudes toward mental health services for forensic sciences professionals

  Journal of Forensic Sciences · 2025-12-04 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st author

  Research indicates that forensic science professionals operate under significant pressure, the magnitude of which varies depending on their field, workload, case type, tenure, and the evidentiary significance of their testimony in court. This study conducted a needs analysis of forensic science professionals by examining their psychological well-being, coping mechanisms, and barriers to accessing mental health services. A total of 618 individuals from the AAFS community completed the anonymous online Qualtrics survey. Out of 618 participants, 601 participants responded to the PCL-5 questionnaire, which revealed that 8.4% (n = 52) of the 601 forensic science professionals have probable PTSD symptoms. There was no significant difference between genders for probable PTSD symptoms. However, 76.5% of the probable PTSD symptomatic population were more likely to seek therapy as a result of work-related stress. Female forensic science professionals and forensic science professionals with fewer years of work experience were likely to report more psychological distress symptoms. A similar pattern was noticed with using coping strategies and experiencing mental health barriers based on gender and years of working experience. In general, forensic science professionals were more likely to report positive coping strategies (e.g., talking with a spouse) and less likely to use maladaptive strategies (e.g., drugs). Finally, female forensic science professionals reported 5 out of 14 mental health barriers to help-seeking behavior. Findings support the need to implement a supportive organizational culture, including training, awareness programs, and encouraging help-seeking behaviors, irrespective of gender and years of experience.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Empowering Salon Professionals: A Needs Assessment to Understand Training Preferences and Strategies for Addressing Sex Trafficking and Violence

  Journal of Human Trafficking · 2024-10-20 · 2 citations

  articleCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Are you a cop?: Identifying suspicion in online chat operations with online groomers

  Child Abuse & Neglect · 2024-07-04

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Innovations from the launch of the child sexual abuse reduction research network

  Child Abuse & Neglect · 2024-08-28 · 1 citations

  editorial
  PublisherDOI

• Testing a hybrid risk assessment model: Predicting CSAM offender risk from digital forensic artifacts

  Child Abuse & Neglect · 2024-06-25 · 2 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Criminological differences between contact-driven and online-focused suspects in online child sexual grooming police reports

  Child Abuse & Neglect · 2024-02-14 · 13 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  BACKGROUND: Differences exist between contact and noncontact-driven online child sexual abuse offenders; however, there is still a notable lack of empirical studies with police samples from non-English speaking countries, including Spain. OBJECTIVE: We address this gap by analyzing the criminological characteristics of online child sexual grooming (OCSG) suspected offenders from de-identified law enforcement investigations in Spain. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: We anonymously coded data provided by Spanish law enforcement agencies from 257 OCSG cases (i.e., unique chat logs between a suspect and minor) extracted from 98 police reports with index investigation years from 2008 to 2021. A total of 101,391 messages were analyzed. METHODS: Three distinct datasets were created: 257 OCSG cases, 120 unique suspects (79 online-focused, 41 contact-driven), and 234 unique victims. Each dataset focused on different criminological variables for analysis, such as grooming strategy, motivation, and victim high-risk behaviors. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between suspects on gender, age, or criminal offense history. Contact-driven suspects were more likely to use positive rapport (ɸ = 0.18), send unprompted sexually explicit images of themselves (ɸ = 0.19), and offer something in exchange (ɸ = 0.25). Victims of contact-driven individuals were more likely to be male (ɸ = 0.52) and offer something in exchange for sex or sexually explicit images (ɸ = 0.18). Victims of online-focused individuals were more likely to be younger (r = 0.26). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest criminological differences in the online grooming strategies between contact-driven and online-focused suspected offenders in Spain.

  PublisherDOI

• Analyzing the Nexus between Cyberaggression Outside the Workplace, Social Support, and Insider Threat Behaviors

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2024-01-01

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherDOI

Awards & honors

• 2023 Jefferson Award
• 2022-2023 Fulbright Scholar Awardee, Fulbright U.S. Scholar…
• 2022 University Faculty Scholar, Purdue University
• 2022 Outstanding Early Career Achievement in Forensic Scienc…
• 2018 Outstanding Research Award, Digital and Multimedia Scie…