Building Trust and Empowering Victims of Human Trafficking through Community-Police Partnerships

Saturday, October 14, 2023

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM PST

Location: Room: 3

Submitter and Speaker(s)

Alissa Huntoon

Senior Policy Advisor
U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)
Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Moderator(s)

Nazmia Comrie

Senior Program Specialist
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Speaker(s)

Caridad Mas-Batchelor

Special Projects Administrator
Miami-Dade Police Department, Florida
Miami, Florida, United States
NH

Natasha Haunsperger

Police Office/Community Engagement Lead
Portland Police Bureau, Oregon
Ronny Marty

Human trafficking victims can be anyone and may be hidden; and trafficking involves complex, cross-cutting crimes that pose risks to public safety. Effective partnerships that maintain trust between law enforcement, service providers, and victims are key to increased victim identification, service provision, and victim participation in the investigation/prosecution of human traffickers. Agencies using a multidisciplinary approach and principles of community policing-partnerships, problem solving, and organizational change—see success in building trust and strengthening relationships between law enforcement and their communities, including those most vulnerable to trafficking. This session highlights specific anti-trafficking investigatory practices that are collaborative, victim centered, and effective in building trust.