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Notes From the Field: Emphasizing a Victim-Centered Approach in Human Trafficking Prosecutions

NCJ Number
254652
Author(s)
Date Published
May 2020
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This NIJ "Notes from the Field" article discusses the philosophy of building human trafficking cases without relying on a victim to testify.
Abstract
Testifying or even appearing in court can be a traumatic experience for victims of human trafficking. Many human trafficking cases across the country are based upon a victim's testimony; however, Lara Mullin, senior deputy district attorney at the Denver District Attorney's Office, presents another option to building human trafficking cases without relying on a victim to testify. In this article from the National Institute of Justice's "Notes from the Field" series, which allows leading voices in the field to share their strategies for responding to the most pressing issues on America's streets today, she talks about her office's philosophy of human trafficking cases being victim-centered, not victim-built. Mullin says the Denver District Attorney's Office investigates these offenses as crimes of opportunity and financial gain.

Date Published: May 1, 2020