For 2L Danielle Gallaher, an internship with an Assistant District Attorney in Delaware County, Pennsylvania meant working on a broad range of tasks and gaining experience that every law student dreams of acquiring. Danielle made the connection with ADA Pearl Kim after meeting her at a conference on how Christians should respond to victims of sexual abuse and exploitation. After that time, Danielle obtained a vision of how God would use her in the cause of social justice, perhaps as a prosecutor. Ms. Kim was a willing mentor, allowing Danielle to review human trafficking legislation, exchange intelligence with FBI agents, compile a network of service providers, an write motions and memorandums for the Assistant District Attorney’s office.
Danielle learned many aspects about being a prosecutor over the summer, but two experiences stood out to her. First, she participated in an interagency operation that led to intelligence about sexual exploitation in the area. Danielle was able to gain the trust of women exploited through prostitution to learn more about the networks of pimps and exploited people. She learned the tragic reality that in many cities, the distinction between victim and choice in prostitution has been blurred so that not much is done to protect women who are victimized by prostitution. Second, Danielle took part in researching information for an initiative that targeted escalating violence against Asians in greater Philadelphia. She was tasked with creating an extensive data sheet documenting the incidents of violence against Asia since 2008, which the FBI used in its efforts to protect the Asian community.
Overall, the wide array of topics to which Danielle was introduced helped her gain valuable insight into what her future as a prosecutor may hold. “All of this experience has helped me better understand various mechanisms and interactions in the criminal justice system. I gained a well-rounded perspective on how to operate as a prosecutor and use the position to influence various governmental sectors.”
“The most valuable aspect of my internship was actually seeing what it takes for a prosecutor to prosecute human trafficking cases. From this experience, I was able to learn how I need to approach this issue as a prosecutor.”
Read more about Danielle’s journey:
Center for Global Justice Intern – Danielle Gallaher – Regent University. Center for Global Justice®
Intern Update – 6/12/12 (Danielle Gallaher) – Regent University. Center for Global Justice®
Interns Make Impact on Fight Against Human Trafficking in the U.S.