U.S. Attorney for South Dakota Brendan Johnson says one of the largest conferences on violent crime and human trafficking in the nation is being held this week in Sioux Falls.

"South Dakota has been very aggressive," says Johnson, "and we want to keep the heat on for those who prey on children both on the internet and on the back streets of South Dakota.  This is one more way to bring together the leaders of the state and interested members of the community to discuss strategy to stop this from happening here."

Johnson says the three day conference, being held at the Washington Pavilion beginning on Tuesday, features several well known speakers.

"Elizabeth Smart-Gilmour, a sexual abuse survivor, who was abducted from her bedroom in the family's Salt Lake City home in 2002, is one of our many speakers.  The keynote speaker on Thursday will be a victim from the Penn State University sex scandal that involved Jerry Sandusky, a former assistant football coach."

The conference is free admission and is open to the public on Wednesday and Thursday.  Tuesday's agenda will focus on training for medial professionals, advocates, social workers, counselors, and others in the healthcare field.

 

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