Litigation Guide and Training Begin for New Law

When a new law is passed, the work is just beginning for advocates and attorneys. In 2011, End Demand Illinois celebrated the passage of our latest legislative initiative, the Justice for Victims of Sex Trafficking Crimes Act. This law allows survivors of sex trafficking to petition to have prostitution convictions vacated that were a consequence of their being trafficked. In January, Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation completed a litigation guide and began training attorneys who would like to use this law when representing survivors of the sex trade.

Duane Morris, LLP, hosted CAASE's first training on January 12, 2012. More than 20 attorneys and advocates attended the seminar to learn more about the sex trade in Chicago and best practices for representing survivors of sex trafficking and prostitution.

The Litigation Guide for Illinois' Justice for Victims of Sex Trafficking Crimes Act is for attorneys who are representing survivors of the commercial sex trade. To access this guide and learn more, please contact Lynne Johnson, CAASE's director of policy and advocacy, at (773) 244-2230 ext. 5 or lynne@caase.org

Prepared by Lynne Johnson, CAASE’s director of policy and advocacy, the litigation guide was central to the training. Johnson presented the guide, which gives an overview of commercial sexual exploitation and offers tools and resources to attorneys who are interested in representing survivors. The guide also includes sample petitions, referrals for expert witnesses and a list of supportive services for survivors.

Illinois’ Justice for Victims of Sex Trafficking Crimes Act was modeled after a New York law passed in 2010. Kate Mogulescu, a staff attorney at the New York Legal Aid Society, shared her expertise and personal experiences working with survivors and litigating under New York’s law. Mogulescu has been successful in helping several clients have their convictions vacated since the time that the New York law was implemented.

Erin Knowles Wirsing of Salvation Army’s STOP-IT program described the signs of human trafficking and urged attorneys to be alert to how trauma can transform a survivor’s demeanor. People in the sex trade experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at rates similar to those of combat war veterans. STOP-IT provides street outreach and intervention in the Chicago area.

Beth Johnson, staff attorney for Cabrini Green Legal Aid, offered practical considerations for filing motion to vacate petitions in Cook County.

Kaethe Morris Hoffer, CAASE’s deputy executive director and legal director, led attorneys through the analysis of a hypothetical case.

Rachel Pontikes, a partner at Duane Morris and a member of CAASE’s board, gave welcoming remarks and encouraged her colleagues to get involved through CAASE’s legal project.

The Litigation Guide is available in conjunction with training. If you are interested in bringing this training to your law firm or organization, please contact Lynne Johnson, director of policy and advocacy, at lynne@caase.org or (773) 244-2230 ext. 5.