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The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | October 2017
2C : 13-8 Human Trafficking as well as provide some basic investigative techniques . The training need goes beyond the basics . To be effective , training should be more in-depth and comprehensive . Human Trafficking is a victim-centered crime . It requires a victim-centered approach . Both officers and prosecutors would benefit in victim identification and understanding by participating in training on victim-centered interviewing [ 2 ].
Education and training needs go beyond law enforcement . Prosecutors may be reluctant to bring a human trafficking case in front of a jury because of the tremendous judge and jury education piece that he or she will need to include in their case in chief . Many victims are foreign nationals that have entered the United States illegally . This , along with the aforementioned inherently risky behaviors in which victims often are forced to engage , render them unsympathetic to a jury [ 2 ]. Traffickers are keenly aware of the difficulties law enforcement and prosecutors face and exploit them .
COMMUNITY-POLICING Another important concept in human trafficking investigations is its relationship with community policing . The Task Force Report calls for officers to enforce laws “ with ” the public , not just “ on ” the public . This requires officers to understand the “ why ” of criminality and anti-social behavior [ 1 ]. We are beginning to emphasize an understanding of the disease of addiction with regard to our opiate addiction reduction efforts . These same concepts can be applied to understanding human trafficking victimization . Why is she involved in prostitution ? Why did they come to the United States illegally ? Why was she reluctant to tell me her story when I first encountered her ? These are all questions that , when answered , increase our understanding of victimization .
CONCLUSION Effective human trafficking enforcement efforts require these three things : 1 ) recognizing victimization in historically under-served communities ( especially immigrant communities and those in extreme poverty , 2 ) overcoming a reluctance to intervene because of a belief the victim contributed to their own victimization , and 3 ) navigating an ever-changing landscape of immigration enforcement issues [ 5 ]. The concept of 21st Century Policing requires officers to put forth the effort necessary to identify victims of human trafficking as they are some of the most invisible members of the communities they serve . Law enforcement can take guidance from the advancements in understanding domestic violence and enforcing laws in such a way as to properly protect the victim that have developed over the past several decades [ 2 ]. Human trafficking is a complicated issue to identify and prosecute . Insightful , evidence-based practices that are founded in 21st Century Policing strategies , can guide law enforcement toward an increase in the number of successful investigations .
References [ 1 ] President ’ s Task Force on 21st Century Policing ( 2015 ) Final Report of the President ’ s Task Force on 21st Century
Policing . Washington , DC : Office of Community Oriented Policing Services . Published 2015 [ 2 ] Farrell , A ., Owens , C .., McDevitt , J . ( 2014 ) New laws but few cases : Understanding the challenges to the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases . Crime Law & Social Change , 61 , 139-168 [ 3 ] NJ Police Training Commission . ( Rev . 2016 ) Basic Course for Police Officers Performance Objectives
Manual — section 4.17 [ 4 ] NJ Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive 2012-2 — section VI ( A ) [ 5 ] Farrell , A ., McDevitt , J ., & Fahy , S . ( 2008 ). Final report : Understanding and improving local law enforcement response to human trafficking . NCJ-222752 . United States Department of Justice , National Institute of Justice , Washington , D . C .
The opinions , beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors of items published in the NJ Police Chiefs Magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions , beliefs and viewpoints of the NJSACOP or official policies of the NJSACOP . The NJSACOP and the NJ Police Chief Magazine welcome items for consideration for inclusion from interested organizations , entities , and individuals .
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