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Investigating and Prosecuting the Intimidation of Victims of Sexual Abuse in Confinement

Victims who are sexually abused while incarcerated literally cannot escape their attackers. The confinement setting compounds the harm to the victims and makes them uniquely vulnerable to intimidation on the part of assailants or their allies. Intimidation hinders the investigation and prosecution of these cases, allows perpetrators to evade accountability, and turns confinement facilities into bastions for sexual abusers. This webinar identifies strategies for investigations and prosecutions that build trust in the criminal justice system and provide multiple safe and confidential means to report these crimes. It also discusses victim and witness safety, retaliatory violence, verbal and physical intimidation, and financial and emotional manipulation. The presenter explains the potential for intimidation and violence over the course of multiple cases or over time in a single case. The presenter also discusses the importance of policies and protocols to promote effective prosecution of these cases

This webinar recording should qualify prosecutors for 1.5 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) credits. Prosecutors are encouraged to contact their state bar association in reference to application requirements and related fees.

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Investigating and Prosecuting Labor Trafficking: Exploitation for the Sake of the Bottom Line

Trafficking manifests in many areas of the labor market – including but not limited to – manufacturing, agriculture, construction, entertainment, service industries and domestic labor, often overlapping with sexual violence. It is critical to connect victims of labor trafficking, involuntary servitude, and debt bondage with critical and comprehensive services while also focusing on holding offenders and business entities accountable. This webinar highlights the importance of collaboration with allied professionals to support a victim-centered response and an offender-focused approach. It also explores a variety of best practices and provides law enforcement and prosecutors with the tools to refine their own strategies

This webinar recording should qualify prosecutors for 1.5 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) credits. Prosecutors are encouraged to contact their state bar association in reference to application requirements and related fees.

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Interviewing Victims of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation: Techniques and Tactics

Trafficking victims are difficult to interview for the same reasons they are difficult to identify. Traffickers manipulate, coerce, threaten, and commit acts of violence against victims, which may result in their inability or unwillingness to self-identify, report to law enforcement, or participate in the criminal justice process. Therefore, the ability to expediently and appropriately identify a victim of trafficking or exploitation is crucial, and often can be accomplished only through effective interviewing. This webinar highlights the importance of preparing for an interview by collaborating with community-based service providers and also explores a variety of interview techniques. The presenters discuss tools for law enforcement officers and prosecutors to use when developing their own questions and protocols for interviewing trafficking victims.

This webinar recording should qualify prosecutors for 1.5 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) credits. Prosecutors are encouraged to contact their state bar association in reference to application requirements and related fees.

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A Study in Labor Trafficking: Modes, Means, and Methods of Organized Trafficking Operations

Labor trafficking organizations often operate clandestinely in legitimate venues and industries, causing victims to routinely go undetected or be misidentified. This webinar uses a case study to highlight the key findings from a recent Urban Institute/Northeastern University report. The presenters offer strategies for overcoming some of the barriers in identifying, investigating, and prosecuting labor trafficking, including how to apply the research to practical investigative techniques, overcome common misconceptions about labor trafficking, and effectively coordinate with allied professionals in the justice system, business community, and community-based programs.

This webinar recording should qualify prosecutors for 1.5 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) credits. Prosecutors are encouraged to contact their state bar association in reference to application requirements and related fees.

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The Prosecutors’ Resource on Sexual Abuse in Confinement

Sexual abuse in confinement has persistently presented tremendous challenges to investigators and prosecutors because of internal and external barriers to reporting, including the behaviors, actions, and decision-making power of first responders that may result in the failure to make an official report to law enforcement. Additional challenges include issues related to evidence collection and retention, identification of witnesses, and multi-level biases against inmates. This resource provides an overview of the Prison Rape Elimination Act and national standards related to a victim-centered, offender-focused investigation and prosecution of a sexual abuse in confinement. The issue discusses detailed strategy for prosecuting these cases, including investigation, pretrial, jury selection, trial testimony and sentencing.

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