David Finkelhor

David Finkelhor is a Professor of Sociology and University Professor at the University of New Hampshire, serving as Director of the Crimes Against Children Research Center and Co-Director of the Family Research Laboratory. His work spans over four decades focusing on child victimization, child maltreatment, and family violence. He is internationally recognized for pioneering research on child sexual abuse, including foundational texts like Sourcebook on Child Sexual Abuse and Child Victimization. Finkelhor co-founded major national data initiatives such as the National Survey of Children Exposed to Violence (NatSCEV) and the National Incidence Study of Missing, Abducted, Runaway and Thrownaway Children (NISMART). His research integrates diverse forms of child victimization under 'Developmental Victimology.'

Education:

• Ph.D., Sociology, University of New Hampshire
• M.Ed., Sociology, Harvard University
• B.A., Social Sciences, Harvard University

Research Interests: Applied Sociology, At-Risk Youth, Child Abuse/Neglect, Family Violence, Internet Safety, and Victimization/Compensation. His work emphasizes policy-relevant findings on cyberstalking, image-based sexual abuse, and multi-type maltreatment.

Grants & Awards: Awards include the Daniel Schneider Child Welfare Book of the Year Award (2009). Funding sources include NIH, DOJ, and other agencies. Recent grants support studies on technology-facilitated abuse and global child sexual abuse trends.

Labs & Teams: Leads the Crimes Against Children Research Center (CCRC) and collaborates with the Family Research Laboratory. His work informs policy through reports on child safety curricula and legislative bans on physical punishment.