Dr. Anila Duro, Ph.D., Doctoral Lecturer, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Date: Monday November 16, 2026
Time: 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, EST
This workshop will offer an overview of policing sex trafficking, including the challenges police face in responding to this crime, victims’ and survivors’ experiences with police, and 2026 research findings on the overcriminalization of marginalized communities, particularly Black girls and women in New York City. A new conceptual model will be presented that challenges the “she wants” narrative. At the conclusion of the workshop, participants will engage in a critical discussion and complete a survey designed to further examine our current positionality regarding the distinctions between prostitution and sex trafficking. The goal of this workshop is to assess proposed policy models and introduce gender-responsive policing recommendations informed by critical research and the lived experiences of survivors. Ultimately, the workshop aims to help practitioners respond to these crimes more effectively by utilizing new theories in their practice.