The NCJFCJ is pleased to share the dates for the next National Judicial Institute on Domestic Child Sex Trafficking (NJIDCST): September 17 and 24, 2021. This year’s NJIDCST will take place virtually. The NJIDCST is an interactive workshop that seeks to increase the judiciary’s understanding of child sex trafficking in the U.S. and improve the justice system’s response to victims and those at risk for sex trafficking.
The program will take place over two Fridays, September 17th and 24th from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. PT / 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET.
*For Judicial officers ONLY.
Program Description
The workshop uses hypothetical case scenarios, small group discussions, interactive exercises, and “mini” lectures to provide new and experienced judges with tools and information to develop or enhance their ability to identify and work with children who have been victimized or at risk of being victimized by sex trafficking. The interactive format enables judges from different jurisdictions and with varying levels of experience to learn from one another.
The workshop is led by a faculty team of experienced judges and other experts from across the country who have pioneered work on domestic child sex trafficking in the courtroom and beyond.
The program includes but is not limited to the following segments:
Victim Risk Factors and Vulnerabilities
This segment provides foundational knowledge of domestic child sex trafficking including definitions, prevalence, risk factors, and vulnerable populations.
The Legal Landscape of Domestic Child Sex Trafficking
This segment will develop participants’ knowledge of federal trafficking legislation and state or tribal law and will highlight the ability of judges to craft appropriate responses to cases despite the potentially challenging legal framework.
Perpetrators: Recruitment, Control, and Demand
In this segment, participants will learn about the demand side of domestic child sex trafficking and the recruitment and control tactics used by traffickers.
Trauma-Informed Justice Systems
This segment focuses on how challenging courtroom behavior can be understood through a trauma lens and provides concrete examples of how to engage with victims in court. The segment also explores how an understanding of complex trauma and historical trauma is important in formulating an appropriate system response.
Cultural Considerations and Bias
Participants will examine how cultural identity, social roles, and cultural misinformation affect court intervention and decision-making in DCST cases. This segment will also provide strategies to reduce bias and enhance cultural competence.
Judicial Leadership and Decision-making in DCST Cases
In this segment, participants will integrate their understanding of DCST and trauma into the judicial decision-making process. Participants will also consider strategies for interagency collaboration and engage in an interactive analysis of changes they would like to see in their own jurisdictions.
Who Should Attend
*NOTE: Only state and tribal court judges and judicial officers (commissioners, magistrates, referees, etc.) are eligible to attend the program.
This is due to the nature of the grant funding for the training but also because one of the most important aspects of the program is ensuring that judicial participants have a safe environment to speak candidly about the challenges of presiding over highly sensitive child sex trafficking cases.
Registration
Friday, September 17, 2021 and Friday, September 24, 2021| 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. PT / 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET
There is no registration fee for the program.
Contact
Please contact the registrar Malika Fahie, Program Specialist at mfahie@ncjfcj.org or (775) 507-4817 if you have any questions or need assistance with registration.
*These segments are subject to adjustments in advance of and during the workshop to meet the learning needs of participants.