“The Trap: The Deadly Sex Trafficking Cycle in American Prisons”

Tuesday, November 27

5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

In 2014, the Pennsylvania legislature enacted the Commonwealth’s first comprehensive anti-trafficking statute. The statute provides enhanced legal protections for victims of human trafficking, including a civil remedy and the ability to vacate convictions for crimes that occurred as a direct result of victimization. These critical protections can help victims restore their lives and reduce some of the collateral consequences of their experiences. Unfortunately, victims are still arrested, prosecuted and incarcerated for crimes directly related to the victimization.  The Guardian conducted an eighteen month long investigation of how traffickers use the prison system to recruit and exploit women who have been incarcerated resulting in the documentary “The Trap:  The Deadly Sex Trafficking Cycle in American Prisons.” The film follows the stories of women caught in the trap of criminal exploitation and incarceration and those trying to stop some of America’s most vulnerable women from falling under the control of human traffickers.

The Villanova Law Institute to Address Commercial Sexual Exploitation and The David F. and Constance B. Girard-diCarlo Center for Ethics, Integrity and Compliance will host a screening and panel of the film on Tuesday, November 27 from 5:30-8:30 pm in the Laurence E. Hirsch ‘71 Classroom (Room 101) at the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. This event is approved by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board for 1 substantive CLE Credits.