At any given time in Ohio, nearly 3,000 minors are at risk of being trafficked for sex, and around 800 foreign-born people are trafficked for sex and labor, according to the Summit County Collaborative Against Human Trafficking.
Akron Municipal Court Judge Ron Cable will host a free training event, called “Responding to Human Trafficking: One Case At-a-Time,” Monday, May 20, in the Senator Oliver Ocasek Building, 161 S. High St., from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Doors will open at 8 a.m.
The training, part of Cable’s Restore Individual Self-Empowerment (RISE) Program, in partnership with the Ohio Supreme Court, is facilitated by the Center for Court Innovation.
Annually, hundreds of domestic and foreign victims fall prey to traffickers. The training will examine pathways into prostitution and human trafficking, explore reasons victims stay with their exploiters, identify red flags and other indicators and discuss screening tools and resources.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for members of the community to learn more about issues surrounding human trafficking along with the warning signs,” said Cable, who leads the RISE Program, created for adult female human trafficking victims. “Human trafficking is a major issue across the country, and we are proud to partner with the Ohio Supreme Court to provide this educational opportunity at no cost to attendees.”
The training is open to judicial officers, prosecutors, attorneys, law enforcement, human trafficking advocates, justice partners, community partners and members of the community.
The Court has requested 5.5 total continuing legal education credit hours and 5.5 total continuing professional education credit hours for social work. Registration is available online at www.eventbrite.com/e/responding-to-human-trafficking-one-case-at-a-time-tickets-60273522729.
This training is made possible by a Violence Against Women Act grant from the Ohio Department of Public Safety to the Ohio Supreme Court. The grant supports technical assistance to local courts interested in enhancing their response to domestic violence, sexual violence, dating violence and stalking.
The Akron Municipal Court serves the cities of Akron and Fairlawn; the townships of Bath, Richfield and Springfield; the Villages of Lakemore and Richfield; and that part of Mogadore in Summit County, Ohio. For info, visit www.akronmunicipalcourt.org.
