Summary
My research interests revolve around the complex intersections of trauma, juvenile justice and human trafficking, with a particular focus on sex trafficking. I am interested in exploring how societal and individual attitudes and perceptions towards human trafficking influence the treatment of trafficking victims, especially juveniles, when they encounter the criminal justice system. For example, I presented my study focused on ascertaining how personal experiences with trauma (e.g., adverse childhood experiences) shape one's attitudes, perceptions, and decision-making toward human trafficking victims/survivors who are on trial for a criminal act at the 2024 American Psychology-Law Society Conference. Central to my work is the goal of advancing the criminal justice system to ensure that laws, policies, and procedures are reformed to recognize and treat victims/survivors of human trafficking as victims rather than as criminals. In this vein, I seek to promote the use of evidence-based and victim-centered programs within the court system, ensuring that trafficking victims/survivors receive the comprehensive assistance and support they deserve. Lastly, given the pervasive and often overlooked role of demand in driving the sex trafficking industry, I am interested in understanding the attitudes, behaviors, and motivations of sex buyers. By shedding light on this critical aspect, I aim to evaluate and develop effective strategies for disrupting the demand fueling the sex trafficking industry, resulting in the prevention of further victimization.
Recent publications
- Ling, T., & Marsh, S. C. (in press). Human Trafficking. In P. T. Clements, D. Solomon, M. D. Flores, C. A. Mallet, & K. Mancha (Eds.), Gender Based Violence Across the Spectrum: A Trauma-Informed Approach
- Dierkhising, C. B., Ling, T., & Marsh, S. C. (2023). Recommendations for juvenile courts assisting children and youth impacted by commercial sexual exploitation. University of Nevada, Reno, Reno Nevada.
- Dierkhising, C. B., Marsh, S. C., & Ling, T. (2023). Identifying and utilizing trauma-focused programs and interventions for children and youth involved in the juvenile court.University of Nevada, Reno, Reno Nevada.
- Ling, T., Marsh, S. C., & Dierkhising, C. B. (2023). Recommendations for juvenile courts on incorporating Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belongingness (DEIB) in the trauma-informed courtroom. University of Nevada, Reno, Reno Nevada.
- Ling, T., Dahir, V.B., Weiss, E.L., Dominguez, K., Enrile, A., Moore, M.R., Levine, M.A., & Bennett, D. R. (2023). Southern Nevada Human Trafficking Gap Analysis 2022. University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada.
- Marsh, S.C., Cameron-Wedding, R., Gueller, M., Ling, T. (2023). Improving diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through a race equity lens: A toolkit for juvenile and family court judges. National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.
- Knoche, V., Marsh, S. C., Skinner-Ling, T. (2022). Exploring juvenile court outcomes as a function of judge-youth characteristics and interactions. Juvenile and Family Court Journal. 73, 23–39.https://doi.org/10.1111/jfcj.12213
Research experience
My past research experience consists of being an undergraduate research assistant in a virtual reality laboratory that studied post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and self-efficacy.
Education
B.A. Psychology and Criminal Justice from Delaware State University