In the courtroom, the credibility of sex trafficking survivors is often called into question. Particularly of interest are the survivors’ complex behaviors and reactions, which may be misunderstood as being incongruent with claims that they were sex trafficked. Expert testimony may be essential to help the jury understand the seemingly counterintuitive behavior of trafficking survivors.
Heidi Chance understands the current laws against sex trafficking and challenges to prosecution arising from common misconceptions about survivors. Heidi Chance has the knowledge and experience to summarize clinical research on the mental health consequences of sex trafficking. Heidi Chance is an expert in explaining how trauma and psychopathology can cause survivors to recant testimony, be reluctant to engage, or respond in other ways that weaken their perceived credibility.
Heidi is passionate about the power of awareness and making a chance for change for sex trafficking victims and how professionals understand the growing sex trafficking problem in our communities.