Attorneys Fighting Human Trafficking in Houston
July 27, 2011 – Joint Press Release by Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan and Free the Captives
Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan along with Free the Captives, a non-profit anti-human trafficking organization, hosted a training session at the County Attorney’s Office on July 26, 2011 to train attorneys who have volunteered under the Office’s novel Lawyers on Loan program. Ten attorneys, recruited by Free the Captives, were deputized as Assistant County Attorneys to aid Vince Ryan in shutting down illegal businesses where human trafficking is occurring. The pro bono attorneys were diverse in background, from a retired judge to solo practitioners to corporate attorneys.
Linda Geffin from the Harris County Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Unit offered the training class focusing on using civil remedies to close locations that are hotbeds of criminal activity and are suspected of being fronts for human trafficking. The Special Prosecutions Unit uses the power of civil injunctive relief to close places that knowingly harbor the criminal element. These suits are a priority for County Attorney Vince Ryan, who said, “Law enforcement officers tell us that just arresting the criminals doesn’t solve the problem. You must take away the habitat to fix the problem.”
It is anticipated that this is the first of many such classes in the future, which will allow the County Attorney’s Office to focus on results in addressing this heinous crime. For more information, please visit http://www.freethecaptiveshouston.com/pro-bono-attorneys.php.
