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Powerful Documentary and Eye-Opening Panel Discussion Spotlight Survivor-Centered Approach to Combating Human Trafficking

A screening of the film The Right Track and a thought-provoking panel of experts brought together advocates, law enforcement, and survivors to explore anti-trafficking solutions rooted in dignity and policy reform.

March 25, 2026

By Caitlin Truesdale, Office of Marketing and Communications

The Right Track
Students, faculty, and community partners gather for a screening of The Right Track at the University of New Haven

Meaningful conversations often begin with a willingness to listen and to act. That spirit was on full display at the University of New Haven during a recent campus event featuring a screening of The Right Track, a powerful documentary highlighting the realities of human trafficking and the growing movement toward survivor-centered solutions.

Hosted in the Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation, the event welcomed students, faculty, and community partners for a morning of reflection, learning, and dialogue. The film screening was followed by a panel discussion featuring experts across advocacy, law enforcement, and policy, alongside a survivor whose lived experience brought urgency and humanity to the conversation.

In thanking the esteemed panelists, Brian Otis, vice president of University advancement said, Their combined experience will let us understand not only the realities of trafficking, but also the solutions that are making a meaningful difference.

Justice must be humane and grounded in the dignity of every person

Opening remarks underscored the Universitys longstanding commitment to addressing and responding to human trafficking through education, research, and community partnership. Leaders emphasized that preventing exploitation requires a multidisciplinary approach one that integrates criminal justice, public policy, and a deep respect for human dignity.

President Jens Frederiksen
University President Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D., delivers opening remarks

President Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D. highlighted the role of the Universitys internationally respected Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences in advancing survivor -based practices and shaping national conversations around justice and public safety.

Justice must be humane and grounded in the dignity of every person, he said. When we strengthen youth justice, community safety, and survivor-centered responses, we strengthen our collective ability to prevent exploitation before it begins.

If we dont care for the survivors first and foremost, its a failure

The film, developed through the work of and its founder and friend of the University Janet Jensen 17 Hon., challenges audiences to rethink how systems respond to exploitation. At the heart of The Right Track is the Survivor Model.

Jensen explained, In the Survivor Model, we dont arrest the individuals being exploited we hold the buyers and traffickers accountable.

Following the screening, panelists expanded on these ideas, discussing how survivor-centered approaches can transform both policy and practice. They emphasized that trafficking is often misunderstood and frequently hidden in plain sight, which makes education and awareness critical first steps.

The moderator for the event was Timothy Palmbach, executive director of the Universitys Center for Forensic Investigations of Trafficking in Persons, who brought decades of leadership in forensic investigations, policy development, and survivor-centered work. Palmbach started the discussion off by saying, If first and foremost we don't care for the survivors, it's a failure. So that is the model that we're going to move toward, and that is the starting point of this conversation today.

A key theme throughout the discussion was the importance of language. Panelists noted that terms often used casually can obscure the realities of exploitation, reinforcing the need to frame trafficking as a form of organized crime and systemic harm.

Jensen emphasized that while it is often commercialized, its important to recognize that, this is organized crime.

Panelists
Panelists (left to right) Detective Leonard Soto, Janet Jensen 17 Hon., and Toni Marossie
When youre in that life, youre not seen as a person.

Bringing her lived experience, courage, and insight to the anti-trafficking movement, Toni Marossie, a survivor, spoke candidly about the gaps in current systems. From misidentification by law enforcement to a lack of trauma-informed care, her perspective highlighted the urgent need for change.

When youre in that life, youre not seen as a person; Youre seen as an object, Marossie shared, emphasizing the importance of support systems that recognize survivors as individuals and not statistics.

Marossies fellow panelists echoed this sentiment, noting that meaningful progress depends on building trust, offering long-term support, and ensuring that survivors have a voice in shaping solutions.

Sometimes the most important thing is having someone who listens, she said. Having someone who sees you for who you are and who you can become.

We cant just make an arrest and leave

Law enforcement perspectives added another important layer to the conversation, illustrating both the challenges and opportunities in addressing trafficking cases. Many complexities exist, such as identifying victims, especially in an era where exploitation is increasingly facilitated online.

Audience members
Audience members engage with panelists during a question-and-answer session following the screening of The Right Track

Panelist Leonard Soto, a Special Victims Unit Detective with the New Haven Police Department, highlighted the importance of technology, pointing to tools that help track patterns and identify trafficking networks. Still, he stressed that technology alone is not enough, and that success depends on partnerships with advocates, researchers, and survivors themselves.

We cant just make an arrest and leave, said Soto. Thats not where it ends. We have to stay in their lives and help rebuild trust.

A collaboration that will position the University as a national leader

Confronting human trafficking requires collective action. From policymakers and law enforcement to students and community members, everyone has a role to play.

By bringing together voices from across disciplines and centering the experiences of survivors, the University of New Haven continues to foster conversations that raise awareness and drive meaningful change.

This event reflects a shared mission, said William (Bill) Carbone, MPA, professor of practice at the Henry C. Lee College and senior executive director of the Universitys . There is a commitment to transforming systems and elevating survivor leadership.

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