Transcript What is CSEC? - Kristi House

Module 6:
Investigating
CSEC Cases
“It took them almost a year and a half
of being locked up a bunch of times in adult jail ‘til
they realized I was juvenile.”
- CSEC survivor
Investigating CSEC Cases and
Interviewing Victims
Objectives…
• To focus on victim-centered investigation and
prosecution
• To learn strategies for building a case against
CSEC
• To practice appropriate protocol for
interviewing victims
Brainstorming Question:
What does
“victim-centered investigation”
really mean in practice?
Tough questions for law enforcement and
legal professionals…
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How do you interact with sexually exploited kids on
the street?
How do you build a case against an exploiter or
trafficker to put them away?
What do you do to try to prevent a victim/witness
from running away?
What do you do when interviewing a child who
presents as an “unwilling victim,” who is resistant to
police intervention, or who protects her exploiter?
What strategies do you use to build a case against an
exploiter that is not hinged on a child’s testimony?
How do you deal with a child that goes AWOL and
returns to the life?
How do you hold johns accountable for CSEC? How
do you address demand?
“These are really the hardest cases I’ve ever
worked on in all my years on the job. So hard.
It’s so tough, so complex, there is so much
involved. And people don’t want to believe
that these are real victims.”
- Sergeant, Special Projects Squad
Key Points for Effective CSEC
Investigations
Before you begin…
• Understand that this will not be an easy
case
• Understand that these cases may not be a
priority for your supervisor
• Understand the dynamics of CSEC
• Be willing to invest a lot of time
• Be willing to work collaboratively
Key Points for Effective CSEC
Investigations
As you work with the victims…
•Be persistent and patient
•Be respectful and nonjudgmental of
your victims
•Know what resources are available
•Bring in people who are experienced
with dealing with CSEC victims
immediately
Key Points for Effective CSEC Investigations
As you begin to build your case…
• Corroborate, corroborate, corroborate
• Build on as many victims as you can
• Continue to work with service providers to
support your victims
• Try to find a DA who understands these
types of cases
• Understand and anticipate your victims’
likelihood of “relapse”
Activity:
On The Ground Investigation
US v. Demetrius Johnson
Activity: On the Ground Investigation
Working Group Questions:
• What were the challenges in this case?
• What aspects would you find particularly
challenging?
• How did the investigators approach these
challenges?
• How would you?
Activity: On the Ground Investigation
Debriefing Questions:
How do the “Key Points” relate to this
investigation?
Are there any “standout” points helpful
to you?
Investigative Techniques
Who are the players you want to
investigate?
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Traffickers/Exploiters
“Johns”
Strip-club owners
Pornographers
Owners of hotels and other businesses that
support
or profit from CSEC
Investigative Techniques
Discussion Question:
What techniques should
be used to build a strong
case?
Investigative Techniques
• Surveillance
• Interview neighbors regarding people coming
and going
• John’s sweeps
• Use of under-covers
• Phone taps
• One party consent calls
• Check web pages like MySpace
• Internet advertisements like Craigslist
Investigative Techniques
• Look for phone records, hotel records and bills,
any medical records of violence, financial
transactions, Western Union wire transfers, bus or
plane tickets
• Go to various tracks and/or indoor locations to
seek additional victims of same pimp/trafficker
• Get DA on board
• Search warrant Use federal resources—contact
FBI, NCMEC, ICAC, CEOS, etc.
• Know trafficking routes: interstate and international
• Look for evidence of interstate commerce
“We brought a girl in for an interview to build more information on a case we were
working on. Initially she was really resistant, a little bulls**t, a little lip. Told us she wasn’t
going to answer any questions. I bought some pizza and soda and just sat around talking
s**t with her for a while, getting her to feel comfortable. In the end, she gave us so
much info, really good stuff. When she was leaving she turned to me and said, “Damn,
you guys really broke me down.” But all we did was spend a few dollars, spend a little
time and she really opened up. Essentially pimps are willing to invest a little money, a
little time. As cops we need to be able to invest that too.”
What does this cop’s experience tell you
about interviewing CSEC victims?
Interviewing CSEC Victims
What are your objectives in
interviewing a CSEC victim?
What kind of protocol will help you
achieve those objectives?
Interviewing CSEC Victims
Gain trust and confidence
• First engagement can make a huge impression, whether you
develop the relationship that lets you build a case and/or truly help
the victim
• Victims may be resistant upon first engagement, but if you start
building trust immediately, they may later visit or contact you with
the information you need
• Be clear you are not there to hurt them (most adults in their lives
may have)
• Refer case to Special Victims Unit, Anti-Trafficking Unit, or other
units experienced in dealing with CSEC
• Invite CSEC-specific service providers to be involved in the case
from the beginning. The child may have an existing relationship with
service provider, or feel safer talking to a child advocate
Interviewing CSEC Victims
Gain trust and confidence continued
• Make sure the child understands his/her situation and/or
legal rights by translating all legal terms into terms the child
can understand
• Provide a safe, non-threatening place for questioning
• Do not be judgmental
• While not condoning exploitation, appear neutral
• Maintain appropriate boundaries
• Do not treat victim like a perpetrator
• Do not threaten victim with consequences for not
cooperating with investigation for or testifying against
exploiter
Interviewing CSEC Victims
Address Immediate Needs
• Sleep - Let the child sleep if he or she was up all night. Children are
much more receptive to questions after getting sleep
• Clothing appropriate to place and temperature
• Food
• Medical attention
• Determine appropriate guardianship (call and/or visit guardians)
• Connect victim with CSEC-specific services/service providers
• Safe placement
• This is challenging, but keeping a child close serves the officer and the
child well. You may not get truthful information the first interview, but
you may in conversations to come
• Check up on the victim, and let the victim know you are checking up
on him or her
• Let the victim know you care
• Prevent additional missing-persons reports
Interviewing CSEC Victims
Debriefing
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Use CSEC-appropriate language and a calm, even tone
Prepare to spend more time than with most crime victims
Behave unlike most victims or confidential informants
Be respectful and nonjudgmental
Use logic to sensitively to confront denial, i.e., “ I know you think he
protected you when you had a bad date, but what happened after
that date? He put you in a car with another date….Do you think that
he’s really protecting you?”
Involve service provider or child advocate
Get pedigree information and ask questions about background
Expect lies and misinformation
False name and background information
Protect pimp/exploiter i.e., “He’s just my boyfriend.”
The more information you get the better—somewhere in there,
something will be true. Enter all information given into the system
and look for missing-persons reports, etc.
Interviewing CSEC Victims
Debriefing cont…
• Earn trust
• For example: After ascertaining real identity let them
know you could charge with (false impersonation), but
you won’t. You are not interested in charging them with
anything —you just want to know what’s going on, what
they’re going through.
• Identify pictures of pimps and other CSEC victims
• Where is the child living? Where was he/she living?
(Shelter, group home, family, etc.)
• What help does the child need? (convert or keep case
as a PINS instead of a criminal case.)
• Ask about traveling to other states/cities/countries
Interviewing CSEC Victims
Sample Questions
• Tell me about your family.
• Is there anyone I can contact? I need to contact a family
member.
• Child may give you the phone number of a relative, or the
phone number of her pimp or the “bottom.” Either way,
this information is helpful for a case.
• Where is the child living? Where was he/she living?
(Shelter, group home, family, etc.)
• What help does the child need? (convert or keep case as
a PINS instead of a criminal case.)
• Ask about traveling to other states/cities/countries
Bringing back the tough questions…
1. How do you interact with sexually exploited kids on the
street?
2. How do you build a case against an exploiter or trafficker to
put them away?
3. What do you do to try to prevent a victim/witness from
running away?
4. What do you do when interviewing a child who presents as
an “unwilling victim,” who is resistant to police intervention,
or who protects her exploiter?
5. What strategies do you use to build a case against an
exploiter that is not hinged on a child’s testimony?
6. How do you deal with a child that goes AWOL and returns
to the life?
7. How do you hold johns accountable for CSEC? How do you
address demand?
Film:
OJJDP Teleconference Clip
Special Projects Squad
Tough Questions
Debriefing Question:
Are there any responses you find particularly
useful or valuable?