Human Trafficking and Corrections
Donna Sabella, MEd, MSN, PhD, PMHNP-BC | September 22 | 3:15-4:15 pm
Topic: Law Enforcement, Legal | Knowledge Level: Beginner
While often not the setting that comes to mind when thinking of human trafficking, we know that individuals who are incarcerated can be and at times are recruited both internally and externally for purposes of human trafficking, especially for sex trafficking (Binzer, 2016; McNamara, 2017; Rizzo et al., 2022). Potential victims can be recruited by individuals who are inside the facilities- including other inmates and staff- as well as by those on the outside the facility, including pimps, traffickers, family, and friends. This presentation will provide information about this phenomenon beginning with a brief overview of what human trafficking is, followed by a discussion of trafficking recruitment that occurs inside jails and prisons, data estimating its occurrence in American correctional facilities, how to recognize potential victims and perpetrators, and possible signs of its occurrence. Information will be presented regarding the importance of providing human trafficking training to correctional staff and administration to increase their awareness of this phenomenon, as well as appropriate actions and consequences both internally and externally when its occurrence is recognized and how to minimize (ideally prevent) individuals from being recruited and solicited while incarcerated (National Institute of Corrections; Ringler, 2019). The presenter will also draw on her own experiences of recognizing and reporting instances of human trafficking recruitment while working inside correctional settings.
Presentation Objectives:
· Discuss what "correctional" human trafficking is and its occurrence in American correctional facilities
· Describe what makes an inmate a "good" victim
· Provide examples of how perpetrators operate inside and outside the facility
· Discuss how to educate staff and administration to recognize and combat its occurrence in correctional settings