legal assistance for human trafficking victims kirsten kreymann, esq. pro bono director

Legal Assistance for Human Trafficking Victims

Kirsten Kreymann, Esq.

Pro Bono Director

Mission Statement

The Public Law Center, Orange County’s pro bono law firm, is committed to providing access to justice for low-income residents. Through volunteers and staff, the Public Law Center provides free civil legal services, including counseling, individual representation, community education, and strategic litigation and advocacy to challenge societal injustices.

PLC Facts

PLC in 30th year Pro Bono Model - In 2010, nearly 1200

volunteers and 25 staff provided services to over 18,600 people

Free civil legal services No criminal cases Represent victims with LEAs Heavy interaction with victim advocates

Types of Trafficking

International – Foreign national victims Domestic – Occurring w/in U.S. Adult – 18 years or older Minor - 17 years or younger Labor Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Opening PrayerPastor Mike Kenyon

Rock Harbor Church

6

Not Required for Minors

Three Elements of Trafficking

RecruitingOR

HarboringOR

Moving OR

Obtaining

a person,

1PROCEPROCE

SSSS

by

ForceOR

Fraud OR

Coercion

2MEANS*MEANS*

For the purposes of

Involuntary ServitudeOR

Debt BondageOR

SlaveryOR

Sex Trade

3ENDEND

© Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST), 2006. All Rights Reserved.

*No means required when under 18 victim.

Victims Are Trafficked For

Labor Servile marriage Domestic help Working in drop houses Agricultural Restaurant Many more

Sexual Exploitation

Smuggling vs. Trafficking

Smuggling Crime against nation Must cross int’l border Person free to leave after

border passage A person consents to

being smuggled No labor or sexual

exploitation required

Trafficking Crime against a person No movement required Person NOT free to leave

after border passage A person is trafficked

through force, fraud, coercion

Involves labor or sexual exploitation

Examples

An Under-Identified Crime

Some rough estimates of the scope of the problem:

In the U.S. 14,500-17,500 men, women and children trafficked annually

2 million people trafficked worldwide annually 27 million people in slavery around the world 9 billion dollar business

PLC has provided services to approx 90 victims in 6 years 1600+ certified victims through 2010

Portions of slide courtesy of Coalition Against Slavery and Trafficking (CAST)

Why Provide Civil Legal Assistance?

Victims able to become survivors quicker Help prevent re-victimization of client Stable victims make better witnesses Strengthen community policing Incentive for victim cooperation Means of victim identification Victim gains trust in the legal system

Legal Needs of Trafficking Victims

Representation with Law Enforcement Immigration Relief Marriage Dissolution Custody of Children Restitution

Immigration Legal Needs

Special Benefit Parole Continued Presence T visa U visa VAWA SIJS

Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force

Founded in 2004 Purpose

Identify Victims – Community Education Protect Victims – Collaborative Model Prosecute Offenders

Members Core Members – Westminster and Anaheim PD, CSP,

Salvation Army, PLC, FBI, ICE, US Attorney, DA General Members – Include college students, faith based

organizations, professional organizations, medical providers, shelters.

Call the National Hotline First 1.888.3737.888

CSP, Director of Human Trafficking Program

714.548.3856

Referrals

Contact Information

Kirsten Kreymann, Esq.

Pro Bono Director

Public Law Center

714.541.1010, extension 283

kkreymann@publiclawcenter.org