News release

Second Crown Attorney Appointed to Human Trafficking Cases

Public Prosecution Service

Senior Crown attorney Alicia Kennedy has been appointed to the prosecution team dedicated to human trafficking offences in Nova Scotia.

In its 2022-2023 budget, the government provided the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service (PPS) with an additional $328,000 to add a Crown attorney, legal assistant, paralegal and training resources to combat human trafficking.

In addition to conducting prosecutions, the team provides training to Crown attorneys across the province on human trafficking issues. The team also works collaboratively with other justice partners in the effort to tackle the broader problem of human trafficking.

Ms. Kennedy joins senior Crown attorney Josie McKinney, who was appointed in 2020 as the province’s first Crown attorney dedicated to the prosecution of human trafficking offences.

Ms. Kennedy, a 2007 graduate of Dalhousie Law School, joined the PPS in 2009 and has prosecuted hundreds of criminal cases, including homicides and sexual assaults. In 2019, she undertook a 20-month assignment as one of two Crown attorneys dedicated to sexual assault prosecutions. In addition to conducting prosecutions, Ms. Kennedy trained other Crown attorneys and developed legal briefs and research to support them in sexual assault prosecutions.

Quotes:

“Human trafficking is a particularly heinous offence against the most vulnerable victims. This government is focused on supporting the victims and bringing the perpetrators to justice. Establishing a team at the PPS goes a long way in those efforts.”

– Brad Johns, Attorney General and Minister of Justice

Quick Facts:

  • Ms. Kennedy articled with Legal Aid Saskatchewan and was appointed a staff lawyer there in 2008
  • in 2013, she spent several months as a visiting professional at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands
  • Nova Scotia has the highest rate of human trafficking incidents in the country with 2.1 per 100,000 people
  • currently, there are about 15 active human trafficking and related cases before Nova Scotia courts; most of the cases involve multiple victims