Sanford Education Center Holding Human Trafficking Conference

The University of South Dakota, along with Argosy University of Chicago and the Civil Society out of St. Paul, Minnesota, will host "Human Trafficking in the Dakotas" tomorrow at the Sanford Education Center in Sioux Falls. "Human Trafficking in the Dakotas" is a first-of-its-kind in South Dakota conference for law enforcement officials, social service workers or health care providers who confront, respond to and battle human trafficking - a malevolent violation of human rights and crimes involving the abduction and transporting of women or young adults. The day-long symposium includes panel discussions, open sessions with invited guests and keynote speakers such as Kevin Koliner, Chief Appellate Division, U.S. Attorney General's Office for South Dakota and Linda Miller, Civil Society executive director. Dr. Elizabeth Talbot, associate professor and director of the Master of Social Work program at USD, will provide opening remarks for the conference. Dr. Talbot has studied the issue for more than a decade and knows full well the consequences of human trafficking, particularly on its victims. She is currently doing research with Yumi Suzuki, assistant professor of criminal justice in the College of Arts & Sciences at USD, on identifying the cause and effects of human trafficking on victims and their families.