July 8, 2022 | Social media platforms are being used more frequently to lure unsuspecting victims into human trafficking. Now, a July 26 webinar presented by the Mel Green Institute to Combat Human Trafficking will address this rapidly growing issue. 

The institute was created by Saint Leo University and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office Florida Forensic Institute for Research, Security and Tactics (F1RST) to fight human trafficking regionally, with a concentration on three area counties—Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus. Dr. Karin May, assistant professor criminal justice, directs the university’s and public-facing programs for the institute. 

DANGER! Social Media Recruitment is on the Rise Since COVID-19, is a free, online seminar set for 7-8 p.m., Tuesday, July 26. The guest speaker is Marina Anderson, regional human trafficking coordinator for the Northeast and Northwest Regions for the Florida Department of Children and Families. 

Anderson is a recognized expert in safety methodology, providing training and mentoring to child protective investigators (CPI) and Child Protective Investigations Section (CPIS) in law enforcement agencies. She also is a certified investigator and trainer in human trafficking and a subject matter expert in critical injury, domestic violence, physical/sexual abuse, and human trafficking. 

Register in advance for this free online seminar at

https://saintleo.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcocOmrqTwsHdZ6WDvbS1PYSiqVdWnv4VRv

For more information about the Mel Greene Institute to Combat Human Trafficking and this informative webinar, contact Dr. Karin May at karin.may@saintleo.edu.

About F1RST

Florida’s Forensic Institute for Research, Security and Tactics, an enterprise of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, embodies a collaborative approach between academia and practitioners, under one institute in pursuit of a common goal: shaping the future of public safety. F1RST will revolutionize training and invoke change through innovations in applied forensic science, forensic anthropology, public/private sector security and tactics.

About Saint Leo University

Saint Leo University is one of the largest Catholic universities in the nation, offering 62 degree programs to more than 15,800 students each year. Founded in 1889 by Benedictine monks and sisters, the private, nonprofit university is known for providing a values-based education to learners of all backgrounds and ages in the liberal arts tradition. Saint Leo is regionally accredited and offers a residential campus in the Tampa Bay region of Florida, 16 education centers in five states, and an online program for students anywhere. The university is home to more than 100,000 alumni. Learn more at saintleo.edu.