“Human trafficking” is a misunderstood concept that conjures images of brothels in foreign lands or the rancor of the immigration debate. This workshop will end the confusion by explaining what human trafficking is and is not and by compelling participants to face the uncomfortable truth: human trafficking is a Texas problem with buyers, sellers, and victims... and millions of dollars changing hands.
Fact v. Fiction: The Realities of Human Trafficking in Texas
About the Presentation
The presentation will focus on vulnerable populations unlikely to self-identify as victims or seek help. Participants will engage with actual cases prosecuted in the state of Texas, learn tools traffickers use to entice and coerce victims, and gain practical tools for identifying victims in our own community, especially withincorrections, probation, and other criminal justice contexts. Participants will be equipped to accept the challenge of changing the culture in which we live from one that turns a blind eye to perpetrators to one that provides safety, security, and genuine reintegration for the survivors of trafficking.
Registration and Enrollment
Discover the tools traffickers use to exploit, learn how to recognize the signs, and join the fight against human trafficking in our community. Register now to gain insights from real Texas cases and become an advocate for change and survivor support.
PRESENTATION SCHEDULE 2025
Dates, Location, and Details for Upcoming presentation dates at San Marcos Public Library
| Date | Topic | Fee Per Person | Location / Classroom | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 28, 2025 | Fact vs. Fiction: The Realities of Human Trafficking in Texas - Session 1 | FREE | San Marcos Public Library | 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM |
CLASS FORMAT AND LOCATION
Learn more about the class format, class location, parking and cost.
Presentation & Location
The Presentation will be held at the San Marcos Public Library
Start Date
Class will be held from Jan. 28th to March 11th
Certificate
Recieve a certificate upon completion
Course Cost
This course is FREE
About the Presenter
Meet the Expert, Kirsta Leeburg Melton: Trailblazer in Justice and Human Trafficking Prevention
Kirsta Leeburg Melton is the Founder and CEO of Institute to Combat Trafficking, an organization dedicated to seeking justice for victims of trafficking and holding traffickers accountable, From 2015-2019, Melton served as the Deputy Criminal Chief of the Human Trafficking and Transnational/Organized Crime Section at the of the Office of the Texas Attorney General and for 15 years prior she prosecuted human trafficking, physical and sexual abuse of children, adult sex cases and family violence in San Antonio, Texas. During her time in San Antonio, she established and led the Bexar County District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Unit and chaired the Alamo Area Coalition against Trafficking. Melton is responsible for several of the State’s first life sentences for trafficking and served as the lead prosecutor for the State of Texas in the takedown of Backpage.com in April 2018. Melton also chaired the Texas Statewide Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force and Coordinating. She has trained more than 25,000 people on human trafficking and has been featured in multiple training films distributed nationally. Melton played a critical role in the restructuring of Texas trafficking law and procedure and is regularly called to consult with and testify before the Texas legislature on trafficking issues. Melton graduated from Cornell University in 1993 and received her JD and Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas in 1998. Her book, Human Trafficking Investigation: A Practitioner’s Guide to Making the Case is available from Routledge.com
QUESTIONS?
For more information, contact The Continuing Education Office
Phone Number: 512-245-2507
Email: continuinged@txstate.edu
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