On The Scene Training, LLC

10/10/2025

This week I was invited to the Human Trafficking Response Training in Spotsylvania County, I was asked to speak about something that often gets missed — tattoos.

For many, a tattoo is art or expression, can tell a story.
But in human trafficking, tattoos can tell an entirely different story — one of ownership, control, or trauma bonding.

There were a lot of “aaaahhhhh” moments during the discussion…
and a few “oh sh*t” moments too — when people realized tattoos they’d seen in past investigations could have held deeper meaning, or represented missed opportunities for conversation or how it could have helped in their recovery.

We also talked about the safety of the artist.
Because covering a trafficking tattoo isn’t always simple, speaking artisticaly and also in many cases, tattooing over certain marks can look like cross-tagging in the gang world, which can be seen as a sign of disrespect and put the artist at risk.

These conversations matter.
When we understand the meaning behind the ink, we protect not only survivors — but also the artists who want to help them hear.

These Multidisciplinary Team trainings are so important because each case is complex — recovery is not easy, but it is possible.
From victim to survivor, it takes the collaboration of many to make a difference in each person’s life

08/18/2025

Partnerships matter — and one of the most impactful for me has been with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).

My journey started in 2016, not with NCMEC directly, but with ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children). One of their detectives, using her own lived experience, had developed and delivered an internet safety presentation at a local high school. At the time, very few parents knew how to even begin these conversations with their kids about online risks because we hadn’t grown up with this reality ourselves. That training opened my eyes. It showed how much we didn’t understand and how dangerous silence could be.

What followed was collaboration. ICAC, Homeland Security, local law enforcement, and NCMEC — all of them played roles in educating and supporting communities.

Fast forward to about two years ago: my tattoo world and the human trafficking world collided. That’s when NCMEC pulled me into conversations with their Human Trafficking team. They shared what they were hearing directly from cases, where signs had been missed, where victims sat right in front of someone who didn’t recognize the red flags. From those hard lessons, we worked together to add a different kind of training into what I now bring to tattoo artists added to their safety training we've been providing them over the years. We end every training with this discussion now.

That training helps artists know what to look for, when and how to approach conversations about tattoos, and what red flags may indicate trafficking. And it gives MDTs a better grasp of how tattoos are used as control, and what safe, trauma-informed approaches look like.

Now, when I’m teaching in tattoo shops or conventions, the partnership with NCMEC plays a central role. Human trafficking is hidden in plain sight and with the right partnerships, we can make sure fewer lives are overlooked.

08/14/2025

Conferences like the Human Trafficking Summit put on this week by the Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares’ office is where the real work begins — bringing people from different communities and different roles together to share ideas, learn from one another, and strengthen the ways we protect the most vulnerable.

At our table, two things drew people in immediately: conversations about tattoos and our sensory cart. Both sparked meaningful dialogue, and both had a purpose beyond curiosity.

The sensory cart wasn’t just a display, it was a tool. Throughout the summit, many attendees used it exactly as intended: to ground themselves, manage triggers, and stay present during tough conversations. Several took photos and told us they planned to bring the idea back to their offices, creating a ripple effect of trauma-informed care well beyond the room.

The tattoo discussions were about perspective, not telling survivor stories though some shared that they had been tattooed. Helping multidisciplinary teams understand the culture, process, and complexity of how to approach the tattoo. We talked about how traffickers use tattoos as control, why covering or removing them can be complicated but can be done, done right and the importance of protecting everone involved in those processes. Many professionals left with a better sense of how this knowledge fits into their role in prevention and recovery.

Human trafficking doesn’t respect city or county lines, and neither should our solutions. These cases are complex, and real progress only happens when law enforcement, service providers, government, and community members work together — across jurisdictions, without silos, and with a shared goal.

At the end of the day, it’s about people. Protecting them, honoring their dignity, and making sure we all leave these conversations ready to act.

08/10/2025

📣 On The Scene Training Returns to the Virginia Office of the Attorney General’s 3rd Annual Human Trafficking Summit 📣

This is our second year attending, connecting, and helping others understand pieces of the trafficking conversation that often get overlooked.

At our table, you’ll find:

-Tattoos Tell a Story — Not always what you think. Learn how understanding the meaning and the process of tattooing can change the way we approach healing, removal, and cover-ups.

-The Conversation That Needs to Happen — Why safety, boundaries, and realistic expectations are just as important as compassion and awareness when working toward change.

-Sensory Tools for Conferences & Difficult Conversations — How a sensory break can help calm, ground, and create space for more productive dialogue — especially when topics may bring up lived experiences.

-Bridging the Gap — Bringing together survivors, service providers, and professionals in a way that builds trust, encourages understanding, and supports healing.

We’re looking forward to another year of listening, sharing, and connecting.

08/10/2025

📣 On The Scene Training Returns to the Office of the Attorney General’s 3rd Annual Human Trafficking Summit 📣

This is our second year attending, connecting, and helping others understand pieces of the trafficking conversation that often get overlooked.

At our table, you’ll find:

-Tattoos Tell a Story — Not always what you think. Learn how understanding the meaning and the process of tattooing can change the way we approach healing, removal, and cover-ups.

-The Conversation That Needs to Happen — Why safety, boundaries, and realistic expectations are just as important as compassion and awareness when working toward change.

-Sensory Tools for Conferences & Difficult Conversations — How a sensory break can help calm, ground, and create space for more productive dialogue — especially when topics may bring up lived experiences.

-Bridging the Gap — Bringing together survivors, service providers, and professionals in a way that builds trust, encourages understanding, and supports healing.

We’re looking forward to another year of listening, sharing, and connecting.

08/02/2025

I’ll be at the all weekend! — and Sunday at 10 AM, I’ll be teaching CPR, First Aid, and Bloodborne Pathogens training through the American Red Cross, designed specifically for tattoo artists.

😎 Also joining us as a guest artist is Shady Smith from Red Octopus Tattoos — stop by to say hey and check out his work!
Instsgram - Shady_Smith

But it’s more than just certifications —
Come talk to me about trauma-informed care and how we’re helping shops stay safe and survivor-conscious.
Our Human Trafficking + Tattoo Awareness training is built with the industry in mind — no fluff, no fear tactics, just real talk from someone who knows both sides.

Remember, tattoos tell a story…
And sometimes, that story includes trauma, survival, and healing. My goal is to help artists recognize the weight of that story and feel supported while doing this meaningful work.

Let’s connect. Let’s talk tattoos, safety, and the stories behind the ink.
❤️
— Chrissy Marie

www.OnTheSceneTraining.com
Email- OnTheSceneTrainingYou@gmail.co

08/02/2025

I’ll be at the Virginia Beach Tattoo Festival all weekend! — and Sunday at 10 AM, I’ll be teaching CPR, First Aid, and Bloodborne Pathogens training through the American Red Cross, designed specifically for tattoo artists.

😎 Also joining us as a guest artist is Shady Smith from Red Octopus Tattoos — stop by to say hey and check out his work!
Instsgram - Shady_Smith

But it’s more than just certifications —
Come talk to me about trauma-informed care and how we’re helping shops stay safe and survivor-conscious.
Our Human Trafficking + Tattoo Awareness training is built with the industry in mind — no fluff, no fear tactics, just real talk from someone who knows both sides.

Remember, tattoos tell a story…
And sometimes, that story includes trauma, survival, and healing. My goal is to help artists recognize the weight of that story and feel supported while doing this meaningful work.

Let’s connect. Let’s talk tattoos, safety, and the stories behind the ink.
❤️
— Chrissy Marie
Instagram - the_cpr_chick
www.OnTheSceneTraining.com
Email- OnTheSceneTrainingYou@gmail.co

06/27/2025

All setup at the Fredericksburg Tattoo Invitational

06/11/2025

05/22/2025

04/28/2025

04/24/2025

I get asked about these a lot