2025 Conference on Violent Crime: Full Schedule

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3:00pm EDT

The Boyfriend Trafficker

Thursday May 29, 2025 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT

Human trafficking doesn’t always start with force—it often begins with romance. Traffickers posing as loving partners use psychological manipulation to lure their victims into exploitation. This session will dive into Virginia’s human trafficking laws, explore the grooming and recruitment tactics used by traffickers, and uncover the methods of control that keep victims trapped. We will also examine the trauma victims endure and why compliance is often mistaken for choice. Agent Freeman will provide a case study to show how the illusion of love is often enough to keep a victim compliant and prevent them from leaving the trafficking situation.

Speakers

McKayla Burnett

McKayla Burnett is the State Trafficking Response Coordinator at the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. She is responsible for coordinating statewide efforts to identify and respond to victims of human trafficking. McKayla has worked in victim services since 2015... Read More →

Kathryn Freeman

Kathryn has been with the Virginia State Police since 2016. After graduating from her basic session, she was assigned to Division VII (Northern Virginia), Loudoun County. During her time as a road trooper in 2018, she attended a course called “The Interdiction for the Protection... Read More →

Thursday May 29, 2025 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Latham DEF

Breakout