Human trafficking presentation coming to FinnU on January 24

Know the facts. Save lives.

The recently re-established Upper Peninsula Human Trafficking Task Force (UPHTTF) has teamed together with the Department of Justice, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, several Upper Peninsula Law Enforcement Agencies, and other local experts in the field to bring Human Trafficking Community Awareness to the U.P. in a week-long event during Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The group will be at Finlandia University in the Jutila Center’s room 323, the Leroy Keranen Conference Room, on Wednesday, January 24 at 6:30 p.m.

Featured speakers include, Leslie A. Hagen from the Department of Justice, Michigan State Police Calumet Post Commander Randal Danison and Stephanie Krieger from s7 Consulting. Speakers will present on signs to look for in both victims and traffickers, who can be a target of human trafficking, the laws both Federal and Michigan regarding Human Trafficking, and previous cases that have been discovered both nationally and locally.

There will be time for Q & A and a brief invite to any participants to join the UPHTTF by the current Task Force Group Leader/Administrator Marlene Mottes Victim Advocate from the Department of Justice (DOJ), United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Michigan, Marquette Office and other Task Force members. There will be a Certificate of Attendance anyone can sign up to receive after the presentation via email. A sign up sheet will be available that evening.

There is no registration required and the event is free and open to anyone from the public.

About the Speakers

Leslie A. Hagen, Department of Justice

Hagen currently serves as the Department of Justice’s first National Indian Country Training Coordinator. In this position, Hagen is responsible for planning, developing and coordinating training in a broad range of matters relating to the administration of justice in Indian Country. Hagen has previously served as both a federal and state prosecutor. Hagan has 29 years of criminal justice experience and focuses on issues related to domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault. Hagen authored a recent national publication on combatting trafficking in tribal communities and in 2016 created a video training project focused on sex trafficking of Alaska Natives.

Michigan State Police Troopers

The Michigan State Police (MSP) Community Service Troopers (CSTs) are assigned to regions across the state to focus on community outreach to help strengthen communities. They serve citizens in a range of ways, including mentoring youth, working with seniors, and educating citizens on emerging crime trends.

Stephanie Krieger, s7 Consulting

Krieger works to increase awareness and promote health and safety behaviors to the public, for government agencies, law enforcement, non-profits and social services.  She is originally from Painesdale and is excited to be a part of the UPHTTF even though she currently resides downstate. In specific to Human Trafficking, Krieger believes in a cross professional training model that involves agencies in both the rescue and restoration of victims. As an engagement specialist, Krieger helps to bridge the gaps of communication between agencies resulting in an enhanced and timely response.

Krieger currently is a Law Enforcement & Police Academy Instructor, a certified T3 “Train-the-Trainer,” currently the chair of the U.P. Human Trafficking Task Force Training committee, has served as a member of the Mid-Michigan Human Trafficking Task on the Medical and Community Advisory Committees, and served as Public Relations and Outreach to Sacred Beginnings a non-profit woman’s sex trafficking transitional home.

For more detailed event information please contact Marlene Mottes at marlene.f.mottes@usdoj.gov.