Human Trafficking Forum

On June 30, 2023, The Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative and Rights in Systems Enforced (RISE) Clinic gathered at Loyola Law School with a group of survivor leaders of Human Trafficking and representatives from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office to discuss bail reform and pre-trial release conditions and the role they play in keeping crime victims and survivors safe. The forum provided survivors with the opportunity to engage with LA County prosecutors in sessions to identify measures that the justice system should consider to ensure survivor safety when offenders are released on bail. Participants in the forum included survivors of labor and sex trafficking that interacted with the criminal justice system during the prosecution of their traffickers.

During the forum, survivor leaders emphasized the need for more information to help them understand the process in criminal court. This included a desire to have advocates assigned to help victims access support services, such as housing and employment, to overcome the challenges associated with the crime. Survivors leaders also made the following recommendations for changes within LA District Attorneys Office:

1. Create a brochure that will help survivors understand pre-trial release conditions, including information about how to report violations and where to access support for victim services.

2. Publish a video that will provide information about the implications for reporting violations of pre-trial release conditions. Concerns addressed in video should include:

• What type of offenses are considered violations to pre-trial release conditions? 
• What are the consequences of violating pre-trial release conditions?
• How will the survivor's safety be taken into consideration if they report violations?
• What resources will be offered to survivors?

3. Hire advocates with lived experience to help victims navigate the court process.

4. Host open forums to give human trafficking survivors an opportunity to provide feedback to their office about issues and concerns reported by victims. 

At the culmination of the forum, survivors and the LA representatives in attendance reported they enjoyed the collaborative nature of the event, with one survivor sharing that they liked "hearing from the DAs and having the chance to share their experiences."