Penn State Hbg
Middletown, PA 17057
Biography
Emily R. Strohacker, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Penn State Harrisburg whose research focuses on victimization in its many forms. She examines how experiences such as cyberbullying, human trafficking, sexual violence, and other harms affect victims’ health, behavior, and engagement with justice systems. Her work also explores systemic barriers that silence victims and the ways institutions—particularly law enforcement—respond to their needs, with the goal of informing more effective and compassionate policy and practice.
Research Interests
- Criminology
- Deviant behaviors
- Cybercrimes
- Human trafficking
- Homicide
- Suicide
- Victimization
Publications
Strohacker, E. (2025). Locked and Loaded: Examining Pennsylvanians’ Perceptions about Arming School Personnel and Impacts on School Safety. Criminal Justice Studies.
Allen, K., Gibbs, J., Strohacker, E., & Liu, S. (2025). The influence of training and field experience on police knowledge and familiarity of human trafficking. Policing: An International Journal. DOI: 10.1108/PIJPSM-09-2024-0155
Strohacker, E., Pontes, N. M.H., & Pontes (2024). Interactions between Forced Sexual Intercourse Victimization and Gender on Violent Behaviors: Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2017-2019. Violence and Victims, 1-30. DOI: 10.1891/VV 2022-0052
Gibbs, J., & Strohacker, E. (2023). Prostitution, Renamed? Police Perceptions of Human Trafficking. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice. DOI: https://doi-org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1093/police/paad093
Gibbs, J., Strohacker, E., & Schally, J. (2023). Small and Rural Police Chief Perspectives on Human Trafficking in Pennsylvania. Policing: An International Journal, 1-25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-01-2023-0015
Strohacker, E., Watts, S. J., & Wright, L. E. (2022). Socioeconomic Strain, Bullying Offending, and Negative Emotions: A Re-specification of GST. Crime & Delinquency, 1-32. DOI: 10.1177/00111287221093326
Reis, T., Gibbs, J., Howard, D., & Strohacker, E. (2022). Prostitute or Human Trafficking Victim? Police Discernment of Human Trafficking. Policing: An International Journal, 45(2), 334-345.
Pontes, N. M.H., Strohacker, E., & Pontes, M. C. F. (2021). Bullying Victimization is Associated with a Significantly Greater Risk of Illicit Substance Use among US Female Adolescents: YRBS 2011-2017. Crime & Delinquency, 68(13-14), 2452–2475. DOI:https://doi-org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1177/00111287211007728
Strohacker, E., Gibbs, J., & Woolford, S. (2021). Pennsylvanians’ Perceptions of the Nature and Extent of Human Trafficking. Journal of Human Trafficking, 1-17. DOI: 10.1080/23322705.2021.1898249
Strohacker, E., Wright, L. E., & Watts, S. J. (2019). Gender, Bullying Victimization, Depression, and Suicidality. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 1-30.
Gibbs, J., Strohacker, E., Ruiz, J. M., & Mills, A. (2018). Police Officers Killed on Duty: Comparing the Influence of Social Investment on Line of Duty Deaths of Men and Women Officers. International Journal of Police Science and Management, 20(4), 284-295.
Strohacker, E., & Wright, L. E. (2018). Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Examining Impacts of Bullying Victimization on Adolescent Engagement in Violence-Related Behaviors. Violence and Gender, 1-5.
Nguyen, J., Hinojosa, M. S., Strickhouser Vega, S., Newman, R., Strohacker, E., & Noyongoyo, B. (2018). Family Predictors of Child Mental Health Conditions. Journal of Family Issues, 39(4), 935-959.
Strohacker, E., Newman, R., & Ford, J. A. (2017). Bullying Victimization, Binge Drinking, and Marijuana Use among Adolescents: Results from the 2013 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 50(2), 133-142.
Education
B.S.; M.A.; Ph.D. (Central Florida)