Slavery in Connecticut 2012: Meet our Featured Guests

National studies show that runaway children are targeted by traffickers in 48-72 hours. Modern slavery is not just a big city or third world concern, human trafficking is happening in our own backyard. Who is at risk and what do you need to know to combat this problem? 


Meet the featured guests of the February 9, 2012 Salon, "Slavery in Connecticut 2012"


Officer Deborah K. Scates joined the Hartford Police Department in 1996. She was a Patrol Officer & Undercover Officer for narcotics & prostitution cases. She was then assigned to the Hartford Police Community Response Division in 1998 and assigned as the Community Service Officer for the West End area of Hartford in 2000. In 2001 she was promoted to detective and subsequently assigned to the Hartford Police Vice & Narcotics Unit. From July 2001 thru Nov. 2001 Officer Skate was a part of the Hartford Police & CT State Police Narcotics Joint Task Force. She was assigned to the Federal Human Trafficking Task Force September 2004 thru June 2007. Her current assignment, since 2008, is a part of the Hartford Police Mounted Unit.
She is the recipient of the Hartford Police Distinguished Service Medal, Courage of Connecticut Award, Connecticut Female Officer of the Year 2006 (Excellence in Performance) and The William French Smith Award (Attorney General’s 57th. Award Ceremony 2009)  





Polly Marston is the Co-Lead of the Statewide Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Initiative at the Department of Children and Families.  This initiative is dedicated to the identification, rescue, and treatment of youth who are survivors of Sexual Exploitation.  Polly is currently involved in delivering statewide comprehensive training on the topic of Sex Trafficking of Minors and how to respond to survivors, and building treatment services that specialize in this particular trauma.  


Ms. Marston has committed a career of service to children and their families, including teaching employment skills to low income children, working with children who are mentally ill, and teaching in a detention center for boys.  Ms. Marston is currently working on special projects related to gender responsive services, teen parenting in foster care, and Human Trafficking for the Department of Children and Families.


In addition to her employment at the Department of Children and Families, Ms. Marston is a volunteer mediator at the Children's Law Center in Hartford, CT.

This Salon takes place at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, 77 Forest Street, Hartford, CT

Reception begins at 5pm. Conversation begins at 5:30 and ends by 7pm.

This FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC