The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) provided online instruction in human trafficking awareness to approximately 100 members of the New Jersey law enforcement community on Thursday, May 28. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) provided opening remarks via video. This was the second online webinar that FLETC has successfully provided on Human Trafficking Awareness.
Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality.
In late 2009, at the request of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) leadership, FLETC began developing training on the signs and indicators of human trafficking. In 2015, FLETC incorporated human trafficking awareness training into its basic programs for all new federal law enforcement officers and agents. In 2019, FLETC completed development of its Introductory Human Trafficking Awareness Training Program (HTAT), which it can now deliver online as a virtual webinar.
The HTAT program provides students an in-depth understanding of current indicators that law enforcement and the private sector may observe in industries known for human trafficking. The training consists of case studies, videos, and student-centered learning activities to enhance the learning experience.
The FLETC HTAT also includes a facilitated panel of regional federal, state, and local human trafficking subject matter experts, including local New Jersey subject matter experts from Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation Human Trafficking Task Force, state and local prosecutors, and victim services non-governmental organizations. The goal is to introduce students to local resources they can depend on to assist with suspected human trafficking cases they may encounter.
FLETC has provided this awareness training to its own FLETC staff, and has exported training programs to New Mexico and South Dakota state and local law enforcement partners as well as online training webinar to Nebraska state and local law enforcement officers. Additional online training opportunities are scheduled in the coming weeks with law enforcement in Washington State.
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Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers
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Contact: 912-267-2447