Our MOSAICS team recently hosted a webinar on the criminalization of human trafficking victims. MOSAICS Training and Advisory Board members, Kate Mogulescu and Dalia Racine, shared how survivors of sex and labor trafficking are charged with a range of crimes due to the circumstances of their trafficking. Dalia, a former prosecutor, encouraged prosecution stakeholders to view human trafficking victimhood and culpability on a nuanced spectrum. Kate, a former defense attorney, explained how defenders could engage stakeholders to ensure best outcomes for victims of trafficking, especially post-conviction. Importantly, they provided options for collaboration and creative sentencing to reduce the harmful effects of criminal court involvement.

Mogulescu said: “This is a pervasive and prevalent issue. It is not a fluke or a one off, it is happening across the country repeatedly and systemically.” If you missed the webinar, you can view the recording here.

JPO partnered with the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) to celebrate National Crime Prevention month in October on the Quad. JPO and NCPC teams met with AU students to share information about personal and ridesharing safety. Students took selfies with McGruff the Crime Dog®, and coco his sidekick, and received information about JPO and safety just in time for Halloween. The JPO and NCPC teams also handed out freebies to students and faculty. Follow us on Twitter for future events on campus.

JPO is excited to announce that we have engaged in a partnership to work with Verizon. Working collectively, JPO will analyze pending legislation to assess potential impacts on criminal justice policies and practices and ultimately on communities.  

“We believe it is important for us to push for positive reforms and demonstrate that the business community is willing to engage and is supportive of correcting the problems plaguing our criminal justice system.” - Verizon’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Strategic Alliances, Donna Epps. 

Read the press announcement

The summer 2019 issue of the Drug Court Review academic journal is now available on the National Drug Court Resource Center website. This issue offers a collection of articles on innovative approaches, program implementation, and evaluation in the treatment court field. Read it here. 

JPO’s Senior Policy Advisor, Genevieve Citrin Ray, moderated a panel discussion at America Working Forward: Hidden Workforce about second chance hiring, sponsored by the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation and The Sine Institute of Policy & Politics at American University. The event highlighted programs that offer returning citizens and individuals with a criminal record pathways to re-enter America’s workforce and training facilities. “We have a hidden workforce that needs to be empowered and not feel marginalized,” said Ernest Smith, returning citizen and business owner. Thank you to everyone that came out. 

Did you miss this event? Here is the video to watch.