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Courses/Law/Civil Rights and Constitutional Law

Human Trafficking Fundamentals

Equip yourself to recognize the hidden signs of modern slavery, understand the deceptive tactics used by traffickers, and take effective action to protect vulnerable individuals.

Created byBrandy Wagstaff
BeginnerUpdated May 27, 2026
Human Trafficking Fundamentals

What You'll Learn

check_circleExplain the key provisions and legislative development of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA).
check_circleDistinguish between human trafficking and human smuggling, including the legal concepts of coercion and serious harm.
check_circleIdentify the elements of federal forced labour and sex trafficking offences under U.S. law.
check_circleApply trauma-informed and victim-centred approaches when identifying, interviewing, and supporting trafficking victims.

About This Course

Think human trafficking only looks like a movie thriller? Think again. The most dangerous forms of exploitation don't always involve locks and keys—they involve a "climate of fear" built through psychological, financial, and reputational manipulation.

In this essential webinar, Brandy Wagstaff - Attorney Advisor with the U.S. Department of Justice's Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section - strips away the Hollywood myths to deliver a masterclass on the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). You'll learn how to identify the subtle "invisible fences" modern traffickers use to control their victims and how to apply a trauma-informed lens to identify and support those in need.

Key Topics Discussed

  • History and legislative evolution of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA)
  • The impact of United States v. Kozminski on modern trafficking law
  • Elements of 18 U.S.C. § 1591 (Sex Trafficking)
  • Elements of 18 U.S.C. § 1589 (Forced Labor)
  • Legal definitions of coercion and "serious harm"
  • Distinctions between human trafficking and human smuggling
  • The "Reasonable Person" standard and victim vulnerabilities
  • Trauma-informed and victim-centered interviewing strategies
  • Mandatory restitution and asset forfeiture
  • Federal statutes of limitations and sentencing guidelines

Your Instructor

Brandy Wagstaff
Brandy Wagstaff

Attorney Advisor, Human Rights & Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP)

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Brandy Wagstaff, a 2009 magna cum laude graduate of George Mason University School of Law, joined the Mason Law faculty in the fall of 2009. She regularly teaches Human Trafficking Civil Rights Law, Appellate Writing, Legislative & Regulatory Drafting, Appellate Advocacy, and Disability Law.  While attending Mason Law as a law student, Ms. Wagstaff served as a writing fellow, was Editor-in-Chief for the George Mason Civil Rights Law Journal, worked as a research assistant for two Mason Law professors, and was heavily involved in Moot Court.  Ms. Wagstaff is also an Attorney Adivsor with the U.S. Department of Justice. And before joining the DOJ through the Honors Program in 2010, Ms. Wagstaff completed a federal clerkship on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

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We are a registered provider with 327+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 29 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.

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