The Institute to Address Commercial Sexual Exploitation at Villanova Law

Introducing our summer research assistant, Sarah Thomas, ’26, from Paramus, NJ!
When asked why she wanted to work for the CSE Institute, Sarah said, “I admire the work the CSE Institute has done and I was eager to be a part of the impact that it has on amplifying the voices of survivors. The Institute’s advocacy work is incredible and I look forward to helping make a difference!”
Welcome, Sarah!

Earlier this month, Shea Rhodes, Director and co-founder of the CSE Institute, co-authored an opinion piece featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer with Mary DeFusco, founder and board president of Dawn’s Place and Ann Marie Jones, a prostitution survivor and the residential coordinator at Dawn’s Place. The opinion piece critiques Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker’s recent decision to empower the Philadelphia police to make arrests for prostitution in Kensington. As experts in s*xual exploitation, s*x trafficking, and systems of prostitution, Shea and her co-authors disagree and disapprove of this harmful policy. This policy does not address the demand for prostitution, so it does nothing to fight against or eradicate commercial s*xual exploitation. Instead, this policy criminalizes victims and perpetuates the harmful ideology that people in prostitution are criminals, rather than people who are exploited.

Instead of further victimizing vulnerable and exploited people being sold for s*x in Kensington, we encourage Mayor Parker to advocate for the arrests of traffickers and s*x buyers, the ones driving the demand for commercial s*xual exploitation. Unlike people in prostitution, s*x buyers always have the choice to not participate in the s*x trade, and to refuse to further the exploitation of an already vulnerable population. Police resources should be expended in furtherance of that objective instead.

The CSE Institute advocates for the Equality Model. The four pillars of this model are: decriminalizing the person in prostitution, criminalizing s*x buyers, educating the public about the inherent harms of prostitution, and providing robust and funded exit services for people in prostitution. Visit our website www.cseinstitute.org for more info.

As summer begins, we would like to take a moment to recognize our fantastic team from Spring 2024! We could not accomplish the work that we do without our dedicated faculty and staff leaders, research assistants, externs, and volunteers.

Top from left: Grace Gelone ’24, Phoebe Cooper ’24, Michaela Kelly ’24, Bobbi Lewis ’24, Shea Rhodes, Director, Julia Smith ’25, Kaitlyn Furst ’25, Joanne Curley, Justice for Victims Fellow, and Laurel Enaco ’24.

Bottom from left: Quincy, Madison Fitzgerald ’24, Rachael Cook ’25, Riley Crouthamel ’25, and Brianna Manobianco ’24.

Join us on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 6:00 P.M. at Flourtown Country Club for the Dawn’s Place Artiversary: Celebrating 15 Years of Healing. The event emcee will be the Honorable Louis J. Presenza, President Judge Emeritus of the Municipal Court of Philadelphia. The honorees include Stephen J. Luxton, CEO of Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA) and Mary Ellen Marzullo, Dawn’s Place Board Member and Volunteer. For tickets and sponsorships visit ahomefordawn.org/artiversary.

Welcome back to our Trafficking in Hotels Series! Today, we discuss recent litigation. If you want to learn more, stay tuned or check out our 2023 Annual Report where we do a deep dive into the intersection between trafficking and hotels.

Welcome back to our Trafficking in Hotels Series! Today, we are focused on understanding civil liability. If you want to learn more, stay tuned or check out our 2023 Annual Report where we do a deep dive into the intersection between trafficking and hotels.

Welcome to our Trafficking in Hotels Series! Today, we will take you through a timeline of the history of impact litigation in the hotel industry. If you want to learn more, stay tuned or check out our 2023 Annual Report where we do a deep dive into the intersection between trafficking and hotels.

Proud and humbled to have CSE Institute Co-Founder, Shea Rhodes nominated to this panel of iconic women making an impact in Philadelphia. Join us on March 27, 2024 at 6:00 P.M. to celebrate Women’s History Month. Meeting ID: 814 5582 9830 Passcode: 54053

You may be asking “What does Women’s History Month have to do with addressing commercial s*xual exploitation?” Simply put, prostitution exists because gender inequality exists. Prostitution also perpetuates gender inequality because it requires the commodification and subordination of women. Women do not have the same economic advantages and opportunities as men. Arrest statistics, studies, and the voices of survivors tell us that the deeply s*xist paradigm of prostitution is nothing more than the embodiment of male privilege and exploitation of the vulnerable. We must never stop striving for a society where full gender equality exists – a society wherein no one is bought, sold, or exploited for s*x.

Welcome back to the CSE Institute’s Vacatur Series. Today, we are focused on “Mythbusting” Test your knowledge on what you have learned during this series!
Want to learn more? Look through our recent publication “A Legal Guide for Vacatur Motions in Pennsylvania” athttps://cseinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Legal-Guide_Published01112024.pdf

Welcome back to the CSE Institute’s Vacatur Series. Today, we are focused on “Why is Vacatur Needed?”
Victims of human trafficking are frequently forced to commit crimes resulting in the potentially lifelong barrier of a criminal record. Vacatur acknowledges the stigmas associated with criminalization, and empowers survivors to continue their lives past their victimization.
Want to learn more? Look through our recent publication “A Legal Guide for Vacatur Motions in Pennsylvania” athttps://cseinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Legal-Guide_Published01112024.pdf

Welcome to the CSE Institute’s Vacatur Series.
Today, we are focused on “An Overview of the Current Vacatur Laws.” One aspect of Pennsylvania's comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation, which was enacted in 2014, enables criminalized survivors of human trafficking to clear certain crimes off their criminal records through a remedy known as vacatur. Vacatur symbolizes Pennsylvania’s recognition that it has unjustly convicted and punished these victims – and that they are not, and never were, criminally culpable for conduct that was a direct result of their victimization. By acknowledging the stigmas associated with criminalization, vacatur empowers survivors to continue their lives past their victimization.
Want to learn more? Look through our recent publication “A Legal Guide for Vacatur Motions in Pennsylvania” athttps://cseinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Legal-Guide_Published01112024.pdf

Introducing one of our 1L blog competition winners, Maria Elisa Escobar, ’26, from Maywood, New Jersey! When asked why she was interested in entering the 1l Blog Competition, Maria Elisa replied “Since undergrad, I have supported grassroots efforts to address commercial s*xual exploitation. I am excited to continue these efforts through a legal lens with the CSE Institute and raise awareness on the sanitization of the s*x trade among my peers as a 1L Blogger."
Maria Elisa’s first blog is titled, “Sweetening the Deal: The Glamorization of Sugar Dating on Social Media ” Congratulations to Maria Elisa on being chosen! Read her 1L blog post through the link in our bio.

Introducing one of our 1L blog competition winners, Julia Snyder, ’26, from Sugarloaf, PA! When asked why she was interested in entering the 1l Blog Competition, Julia replied “I went to the CSE Institute Open House and was blown away by the passion and commitment of the woman and volunteers who dedicate their time to the Institute’s mission. In hearing about their efforts and the various ways they aid survivors, I knew I wanted to become involved in some capacity and I am thankful for the 1L Blogger opportunity for allowing me to do so!"
Julia’s first blog is titled, “How the Monetization of Engagement and Attention Boosts the Commercial S*xual Exploitation of Women ” Congratulations to Julia on being chosen! Read her 1L blog post through the link in our bio.

Introducing one of our 1L blog competition winners, Alex Taylor, ’26, from Salem, NH! When asked why she was interested in entering the 1l Blog Competition, Alex replied “At my previous job, I worked at an NGO dedicated to advocating for women’s access to education. While doing that work, I was tasked with running a media campaign for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, and a lot of the research I did for that campaign dealt with commercial s*xual exploitation. When I heard about the Institute, I thought it would be a really great opportunity to continue to raise awareness about this issue and do something impactful while in law school.
Alex’s first blog is titled, “TikTok and the Growing Media Exploitation of Minors” Congratulations to Alex on being chosen! Read her 1L blog post through the link in our bio.

Introducing one of our 1L blog competition winners, Elizabeth Ellick, ’26, from Chappaqua, NY! When asked why Elizabeth was interested in entering the 1L Blog Competition, she replied “I have always been passionate about women’s rights, particularly with s*xual assault and reproductive autonomy, and am eager to research and analyze further how those rights and that autonomy is limited through the power dynamics of commercial s*xual exploitation.” Elizabeth’s first blog is titled, “Impact of Social media on the Life Cycle of S*x Trafficking’” Congratulations to Elizabeth on being chosen! Read her 1L blog post through the link in our bio.

Welcome back to the CSE Institute's sugaring series. Today we are focused on “Myth busting.” Test your knowledge on what you have learned during this series! Want to learn more? Follow us on Instagram or visit our website!

Welcome back to the CSE Institute’s sugaring series. Today we are focused on “What is the harm?” As the internet continues to rapidly expand, s*x traffickers are more active online now than ever. In 2016, 92% of active, high-frequency s*x buyers had browsed online for commercial s*x “Sugar daddies” use online websites to advertise for “companionship” that is “mutually beneficial.” But this “companionship” is really a coverup for paid s*x. The exchange of money, or anything of value including clothing, food and housing, for s*x can quickly become s*x trafficking as a consequence of the imbalance of power between the “sugar daddy” and “sugar baby.” When the “sugar baby,” for example, declines to perform a s*x act as part of the paid “arrangement” the “sugar daddy” can withhold funds until the “sugar baby” complies. This coercive tactic is legally s*x trafficking. Commercial s*xual exploitation exists because of unequal power dynamics attributable to gender, racial, and financial inequalities. When a person believes they can purchase s*x, harm to the person in prostitution is inevitable. When terms like “sugar-dating” or “sugaring” are used to refer to commercial s*xual exploitation, it encourages those unfamiliar with the harsh realities of “sugar-dating” to romanticize and idealize exploitation. Taking advantage of a person’s unique vulnerabilities using money and other privileged resources is always exploitive, no matter how “sweet” it sounds.

Welcome to the CSE Institute’s Sugaring Series. Today, we are focused on “what is sugaring?” A trend on social media has encouraged younger generations to romanticize and glamorize prostitution. This phenomenon is known as “sugaring,” or “sugar - dating.” An individual identifying as a “sugar daddy” or “sugar mama” promises to exchange money or gifts for “companionship” or a “romantic relationship” with a younger partner or “sugar baby.” Due to a false perception projected online that being a “sugar baby” is a quick and easy way to make money while in college, many students, especially those with student loans and other expenses, are drawn to sugaring’s potential benefits, but are unaware of the dangers associated with this form of exploitation. It is critical to remember that behind its glamorous façade, sugaring can be a form of prostitution in which a person with financial resources objectifies and purchases a vulnerable person in exchange for s*xual gratification.

This week in our alumni spotlight series we are featuring Heather Castellino. Heather graduated in 1995. After graduation, Heather worked as a District Attorney in Bucks County for 5 years, where she specialized in appellate work. In 2000, she began working for the Attorney General's Office, where she primarily worked in the Organized Crime Division. Most recently, she has been promoted to Chief Deputy Attorney General of the newly created Human Trafficking Division. When asked why this position is so important, Heather responded, "It is because these cases are so important. This problem is widespread, and there is so much work that needs to be done. It cannot just be something people do on the side. We need people who can dedicate themselves to working on these cases full time." Thank you, Heather, for your continued commitment to this work!

Introducing one of our Spring 2024 externs, Janie Pierson, '24, from Denver, Colorado. When asked why she wanted to join the CSE Institute, Janie replied, " I joined the CSE Institute after admiring the Institute’s work throughout law school and hope to learn more about the intersection of the Institute and the sports industry specifically." Welcome aboard, Janie!

Introducing one of our Spring 2024 externs, Bobbi Lewis, '24, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When asked why she wanted to join the CSE Institute, Bobbi replied, "I decided to work with the CSE Institute after taking Shea's Human Trafficking course because I realized how important the institute's work is and how much more I can learn by getting involved. I wanted to help in any way I could. I hope to expand my knowledge and help advocate for survivors. " Welcome aboard, Bobbi!

Join us on Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 7:00 P.M. at the Connely Center Cinema for Human Trafficking Movie Hope Stories of Survival, followed by a panel.

Introducing one of our Spring 2024 externs, Bri Manobianco, '24, from Wyckoff, New Jersey. When asked why she wanted to join the CSE Institute, Bri replied, "I decided to extern for the CSE Institute after taking Professor Rhodes Human Trafficking class, which fundamentally changed my understanding of human trafficking. I joined the CSE Institute to continue this learning and take an active role in preventing violence against women and dispelling common misconceptions about commercial s*xual exploitation. " Welcome aboard, Bri!

The Institute to Address Commercial S*xual Exploitation at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, founded by Director Shea M. Rhodes, Esq., and Professor Michelle Madden Dempsey, D.Phil., was formally launched in September 2015. Since then, the CSE Institute has both partnered and engaged with hundreds of organizations united against s*x trafficking and CSE. We educate and provide technical assistance to legislators, policy decision makers, and other stakeholders in order to improve legal responses to CSE. In 2016, we added a direct legal services component to our roster with the establishment of the Justice for Victims Fellowship.
Today we spotlight Shea Rhodes, Esq., for her keynote speech at "Human Trafficking; A Global and Local Issue." The event was hosted by and was held at the Degenstein Center Theater at Susquehanna University. Thank you to everyone who helped to put this event together and to everyone who attended!
Learn more about our work or request training by visiting "Our Work" page on our website, link in our bio!

Introducing one of our Spring 2024 externs, Phoebe Cooper, '24, from England, UK. When asked why she wanted to join the CSE Institute, Phoebe replied, "after taking Shea’s Human Trafficking class in the fall of 2L, I realized how misinformed I had been when discussing issues surrounding Commercial S*xual Exploitation. I quickly learned how lucky I had been to be taught by Shea and the incredible women who also shared their stories with us in class and knew I wanted to be part of an organization that does life-changing work." Welcome aboard, Phoebe!

Its , a time to reflect on the lives and experiences of Black Americans and reaffirm our commitment to undo the effects of systemic and interpersonal racism. Importantly, that reflection must result in action.
We know that Black women and girls are more likely to be victims of commercial s*xual exploitation and are incarcerated at nearly twice the rate of white women. We also know that the adultification of Black girls means this population is criminalized far more often, and at a far younger age, than their white counterparts.
We must work to uplift the voices of Black women and girls, and directly address the disparities that exist in commercial s*xual exploitation as a part of the anti-trafficking movement.
Please join us in our continued work to address the systemic racism inherent in the s*x trade, with the goal of ending exploitation in our community.

Please join us in congratulating Elizabeth Ellick, Maria Elisa Escobar, Julia Snyder, and Alex Taylor for being selected to join the Institute as our 1L Bloggers! The 1L Blog Competition affords 1Ls, who are not otherwise eligible to receive course credit as externs with the CSE Institute, an opportunity to work with current research assistants, externs, Director Shea Rhodes, Esq., and Faculty Advisor Professor Michelle Dempsey. We would also like to thank all of the students who entered our 1L Blog Competition!

This quote, taken from a report from titled S*x Trafficking in the U.S. A Closer Look at U.S. Citizen Victims, highlights a key opportunity for intervention.
Heightened awareness and training can help healthcare practitioners understand the complexity of human trafficking and prepare them to act in trauma-informed ways when they suspect exploitation. has the HEAL Protocols Initiative, which fosters collaboration to standardize evidence-based protocols for the identification, care, and referral of survivors of human trafficking in health care settings. Learn more at https://bit.ly/48pKu7A
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