AEquitas - Champions for Justice

3:00pm - 4:00pm ET / 12:00pm - 1:00pm PT

Are you tired of navigating complex human trafficking cases with limited resources? Join us for "The Traffick Report: Conversation with the Field," an online discussion held on the last Wednesday of each month. Professionals from various disciplines, including law enforcement, victim services, and medical professionals, come together to share insight, challenges, and successes in the fight against human trafficking.

Pending OVC approval.

Beyond the Basics (BTB): Advancing Human Trafficking Investigations and Prosecutions” is a 2.5-day training designed for ECM HTTF investigators, analysts, and prosecutors with significant experience responding to human trafficking. This highly interactive training uses a buildable case file to highlight emerging trends and to share resources and promising practices to advance investigations and prosecutions of sex and labor trafficking. Priority application deadline is January 3, 2025. Do not make any travel plans prior to official notice of acceptance.

These trainings will be developed and delivered by AEquitas under 15POVC-23-GK-00907-HT, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in the trainings are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

2:00 - 3:30pm ET / 11am - 12:30pm PT
Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) is an innovative method of DNA analysis that combines forensic analysis with traditional genealogy research.  Investigative leads developed from this work assist law enforcement in identifying an unknown perpetrator or victim. This technique is exceptionally beneficial to resolving cold case violent crimes, in which other traditional leads have been exhausted.
Recognizing the value of this powerful investigative tool, the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) became the first federal program to allow FGG to be applied to criminal investigations using federal funding.  Since 2019, SAKI grantees have leveraged FGG testing to support hundreds of investigations resulting in the identification of previously unknown perpetrators, including serial offenders. As many of these SAKI cases are now proceeding to trial, prosecutors are having to navigate the nuances of FGG in a legal setting.
In this presentation, the presenters will provide an overview of FGG, evidentiary challenges for prosecutors and investigators, including surreptitious collection of DNA from suspects, affidavits for search warrants and discovery requests implicating FGG, managing developing issues at pre-trial hearings, and trial testimony associated with FGG investigative leads.

This project was supported by Grant No. 15PBJA-23-GK-00708-JAGP awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.