Executive Summary
- Leslie Clingenpeel, CEO of The Spring, testified as an expert witness in an Oklahoma City human trafficking trial.
- Her testimony focused on the coercion tactics used by traffickers rather than specific case facts.
- The expert context provided to the jury helped secure a historic conviction in the case.
Leslie Clingenpeel, the Chief Executive Officer of the Tulsa-based nonprofit The Spring, provided pivotal expert testimony in an Oklahoma City courtroom, aiding prosecutors in securing a historic conviction in a human trafficking case. According to reports from The Oklahoman, Clingenpeel’s testimony focused on the psychological and manipulative tactics utilized by traffickers rather than the specific evidentiary details of the alleged crimes.
As the head of a state-certified organization dedicated to providing services for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, Clingenpeel possesses specialized knowledge regarding the coercion of victims. Her testimony was designed to educate the jury on the systemic methods traffickers employ to force individuals into participating in sex work. This context is often critical in court proceedings to explain why victims may not immediately flee or report their abuse.
Judicial Strategy and Precedent
The successful integration of expert testimony to explain the behavioral dynamics of human trafficking represents a significant development in prosecutorial strategy. By delineating the psychological mechanisms of coercion, expert witnesses help jurors bridge the gap between common misconceptions about victimhood and the reality of trafficking operations. This approach may set a precedent for future cases where understanding the psychological hold of a trafficker is essential for a conviction. It is important to note that within the United States judicial system, all individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
