A One-Day Training Event: Investigating and Responding to Human Trafficking Cases

Trainer:  Officer Kenneth A. Lawson, Columbus Division of Police

Human trafficking has been dubbed modern-day slavery.  Victims of human trafficking are young children, teenagers, men and women.  The U.S. Department of State estimates that between 800,000 and 900,000 victims are annually trafficked across international borders, and nearly 20,000 of those victims are trafficked in our country.  Victims of human trafficking are subjected to force, fraud, or coercion, for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor.  Many trafficking victims are forced into prostitution and the sex entertainment industry while others are forced into situations that approximate involuntary servitude, such as domestic servitude, restaurant work, janitorial work, sweatshop factory work and migrant agricultural work.  After drug dealing, trafficking of humans is tied with arms dealing as the second largest criminal industry in the world, and is the fastest growing criminal industry.

Because training is vital to strengthening the toolbox of first responders, including law enforcement officers and social service providers, OCJS will be sponsoring four regional events on identifying and investigating human trafficking cases.  The goal of the training is to raise the participants’ level of understanding of human trafficking; teach participants to distinguish human trafficking from other crimes against society (i.e., prostitution); explore ways to foster collaborations among law enforcement, social service providers, health care providers and other relevant partners; and discuss victim-centered strategies in the investigation of this crime.

Training is Free!
To download and print a training/event registration form, click OCJS Event Registration Form.

 2007 Training Dates and Locations.

March 29, 2007
University of Toledo Law School Auditorium
Law Center (the corner of Secor Rd. and Towerview Dr.)
Toledo, OH  43606

April 26, 2007
Youngstown State University 
One University Plaza
Youngstown, OH  44555