Human trafficking, child sexual exploitation and prostitution is increasingly a topic of interest in America. Children as young as 10 years old are charged and prosecuted for prostitution in America. Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2000 and reauthorized it in 2013 and passed the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act in 2015. However, only 31 states have enacted anti-human trafficking legislation and only 18 states have ‘actual’ Safe Harbor laws.

The course will explain how lawyers can effectively represent victims of human trafficking and children who are charged as prostitutes. The course plunges into the seriousness of child sexual exploitation in America and the criminal justice system.

This topical CLE program, given by attorney Sherri Jefferson, will provide an overview of some of the most challenging issues on the topic of representing victims of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children. Jefferson discusses many of the recent instances of alleged acts of child sexual exploitation and juvenile prostitution that have garnered national media attention and provides an in-depth analysis of the legal issues present.