As human trafficking awareness has risen across the United States and the globe, there are still blind spots that prevent law enforcement from recognizing the exploitation of the most vulnerable people in the their communities. To bridge this disconnect, law enforcement must learn to see abusive and exploitative circumstances through a human trafficking lens, even if those circumstances do not match how movies, television shows, or even well-meaning awareness campaigns portray human trafficking within the United States. The reality of human trafficking is that it most commonly involves an offender who positions themselves as trustworthy and then identifies, recruits, and exploits vulnerable individuals to turn a profit. These same tactics used to identify, recruit,, and coerce victims are also designed to allow the trafficker to escape accountability. However, as Utah’s case against the prolific trafficker Victor Rax illustrates, when law enforcement, prosecutors, and victim service professionals collaborate, human trafficking in all its forms can be identified, offenders can be arrested and charged, and victims can be supported to start rebuilding their lives.Forced Criminality Through the Lens of the Victor Rax Case
Too Much of a Good Thing? State Civil Asset Forfeiture in Timbs v. Indiana
Southwest Institute on the Investigation and Prosecution of Commercial Front Brothels
AEquitas staff, along with Polaris, hosted this training in Galveston, Texas and presented on the dynamics of commercial front brothels, implementing a trauma-informed approach, language access, immigration relief for victims of crime, and media engagement to an audience of government agency staff, human trafficking program staff, law enforcement officers and prosecutors.
2018 Human Trafficking Symposium
AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jonathan Kurland presented “Ethical Considerations in Human Trafficking Cases” on behalf of the Office of Homeland Security, Pennsylvania State Police in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to an audience of attorney’s/law students, corrections personnel, dual sexual assault/domestic violence program staff, government agency staff, law enforcement officers, and prosecutors.
Labor Trafficking Conference
AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson presented “What’s Immigration Got To Do With It? Strategies for Investigating and Prosecuting Cases Involving Immigrant Victims of Labor Trafficking” on behalf of the Catholic Charities of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky to an audience of attorneys/law students, community advocacy organization staff, faith based organization staff, law enforcement officers and prosecutors.
Effective Strategies for Investigating and Prosecuting Labor Trafficking in the United States
AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson delivered a series of presentations, including but not limited to, “A Look at Labor Trafficking in the United States” and “Immigration Relief for Foreign National Victims of Labor Trafficking” in partner with Upper Midwest Community Policing Institute (UMCPI) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in Lansing, Michigan.
Effective Strategies for Investigating and Prosecuting Labor Trafficking in the United States
AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson delivered a series of presentations, including but not limited to, “A Look at Labor Trafficking in the United States” and “Immigration Relief for Foreign National Victims of Labor Trafficking” in partner with Upper Midwest Community Policing Institute (UMCPI) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in Mesa, Arizona.
Roundtable Intersection of Domestic Violence & Human Trafficking
AEquitas CEO Jennifer Long held a panel discussion on the intersection of domestic violence and human trafficking on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office Against Women.
Institute on the Investigation and Prosecution of Child Pornography and Human Trafficking
AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson presented on human trafficking, child pornography, pretrial litigation, and witness intimidation along with Tabitha Gallerani (formerly of The Safe Center, Long Island) and Sgt. Grant Snyder (Minneapolis Police Department) on behalf of The Safe Center to an audience of government agency staff, human trafficking program staff, law enforcement officers and prosecutors.
Human Trafficking Training
AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson presented “Investigation and Prosecution of Human Trafficking” on behalf of Commonwealth Trading Partners, Inc. at Niagara University in Niagara, New York to an audience of law enforcement officers.
