Putting a stop to human trafficking requires a concerted effort. It takes a team to find the traffickers and bring them to justice, as well as a strict strategy. However, all too often the work goes unnoticed.
We simply don’t want to believe that human trafficking is happening in the world, or even that it is active in our town. We can have a better appreciation for law enforcement and advocacy groups when we understand how they’re fighting for the victims’ rights and freedom.
Human Trafficking and the Road to Justice
No one says that putting an end to trafficking will be easy. There are, however, clear steps that advocacy centers like the Human Trafficking Institute take to ensure that they are doing everything in their power to make progress. Enforcing the law is the first step. Trafficking is illegal in every country, yet that means nothing if we can’t actually move forward with prosecution to stop traffickers. For that, the Human Trafficking Institute follows a 4-step plan:
- Fast track courts to hear cases with Specialized Human Trafficking Units
- Train the Specialized Units to identify more cases and conduct trauma interviews
- Office former FBI agents or prosecutors to continue work with Specialized Units
- Update according to evidence-based resources, legal research, and scholarship
The advocacy group Restored Inc. has put a similar process in place for Indiana. (Which is also the home state for iRecord.) Their team is actively involved with the Indiana Protection for Abused Trafficked Humans (IPATH) task force. They partner with local and federal law enforcement for public awareness, training, and victim services. We are fortunate to have them in our community.
Protecting Victims from Further Harm
We are continually amazed at the work that law enforcement and advocacy groups do to reach victims, and we’re proud to support their mission to end the trafficking cycle. Being able to securely record the victims’ testimonies is often a significant factor for reaching these goals. Ensuring that these individuals have their voice heard is crucial for criminal cases.
Of course, documenting accurate interview evidence requires a technical setup. HD cameras, the appropriate microphones, and user-friendly video redaction software all play a distinct role for court-admissible evidence. When the interview is done right, we can spare victims the trauma of repeating their story to various departments and officials. The training supplied by advocacy groups helps ensure that these conversations are conducted professionally and compassionately. With so much at stake, law enforcement, victim advocates, and even the technology need to work together seamlessly.
Need Help with Equipment Funding?
The audio video recording equipment that you use for your interviews needs to be intuitive and hassle-free. There’s already enough to worry about when you’re working on sensitive cases. Difficult technology shouldn’t be another thing on your list.
Another concern for interview recording equipment is finding funds for the investment. Fortunately, there are different avenues to pursue for grant funding. At iRecord, we routinely collaborate with non-profits, advocacy groups, and law enforcement agencies to secure grant funds for their new recording systems. If you think your team could benefit from our experience, please don’t hesitate to reach out for a consultation. We’re always happy to assist your mission in any way we can!