NEWS

NEWBERRY — Newberry College will host its third annual Shedding Light on Human Trafficking & Exploitation Conference. The event will be held Friday, April 17, at the College’s Center for Teacher Education, 1121 Speers St.

The conference will feature sessions covering every aspect of human trafficking and providing resources on how to recognize and deal with exploitation in a variety of circumstances, including law, business, social services, nonprofits, and more.

“Every year, the conference is filled with a wealth of information for anyone who wants to make a difference in the lives of victims and prevent trafficking. This year’s conference will highlight labor trafficking in South Carolina, trends and issues involving juvenile victims, and focus on improving ways to assist victims from investigations to restoration,” said Cynthia Haynes Eshleman, associate professor of criminal justice and the conference organizer. “I encourage law enforcement, victim’s service providers, and attorneys to attend not only for the credits, but for the information which is becoming increasingly necessary with the rise of reported cases in South Carolina.”

Presenters include Newberry College faculty, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Task Force, SLED agents, author and advocate Carol Metzker, and representatives from Arize Together, the Justice Restoration Center, and the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.

This year’s keynote speakers, Jamie Rosseland (pictured), member resource manager for Arize Together, and Brent Woody, executive director and lead attorney for the Justice Restoration Center, will present on the issue of criminal record relief for victims.

The conference is open to the public and geared toward businesses, professionals, and community leaders who help survivors and bring offenders to justice. The event has been approved for Continuing Legal Education credits, South Carolina Law Enforcement Continuing Education credits, and Victim Service Provider credits for attendees working in those areas.

Spaces are limited, with a $50 individual registration fee (which includes a continental breakfast and a boxed lunch from Jasmine’s Kitchen in Greenville). The registration deadline is Tuesday, April 1. Individual and corporate sponsorships are available through April 10. Businesses interested in serving as a corporate sponsor should contact Eshleman at [email protected].

Registration and a conference agenda are available through the conference web page.