Human Trafficking

Shayna StootsCRJU 601

Action Plan

“Baltimore knows such victims too well.” – Melissa Snow, Head of TurnAround’s anti-trafficking program

Human trafficking is also known as modern day sex slavery. It doesn't just happen in third world countries, it’s in our own backyard…

Scope of the problem…

Maryland’s Human Trafficking Problem

*This map only reflects cases in which the location of the potential trafficking was known. Some cases may involve more than one location and are not reflected in this map. Source: The National Human Trafficking Resource Center: Maryland State Report

Location of potential trafficking cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center from 2007-2012 in the U.S.

• The Baltimore-Washington area is a key location referred to as “The Circuit.”• “Baltimore’s right in the heart of it all.” - Sgt. Sean Harrison of the Baltimore City Police Department human trafficking unit. •Along I-95 come rest stops, truck stops (70% occur here), and bus stations. All are prime locations for exploitation.•Victims are also seen being transported through BWI.

At-risk Population Human trafficking

victims can be men or women, adults or children, and foreign nationals or U.S. citizens.

Trafficking is a crime that cuts across race, nationality, gender, age, and socio-economic background.

Undocumented immigrants◦ lack of legal status and

protections◦ language barriers◦ limited employment

options◦ poverty and

immigration-related debts

◦ social isolation **They are often

victimized by traffickers from a similar ethnic or national background

Runaway and homeless youth◦ Ages 9-18 (50% <18)◦ Mostly female (80%)◦ Most come from an

abusive background 85% reported a

history of incest, 90% a history of physical abuse, and 98% a history of emotional abuse

MOST Vulnerable…

What we need to see happening…◦ Number of human trafficking victims decrease

dramatically◦ Focus our attention on sanctioning johns & traffickers,

NOT the prostitutes◦ Train law enforcement to better identify and handle

potential victims of trafficking◦ Educate and make people aware of the situation and

change attitudes towards prostitution◦ More resources available for human trafficking victims◦ Hotels becoming involved and working with advocacy

programs being as they are the main point of contact in present times

Human Trafficking Prevention Initiative

Seminars (training & educational)

Safe HandoffsHeightened security & camera’s in truck stops and bus stations

Implementation

Law Enforcement Attorneys Anti-Trafficking Organizations (i.e. The Abell Foundation*) Private Investors GOCCPActively involved in MD: Baltimore Child Abuse Center, Inc. Federal Bureau of Investigation-Victim Assistance Program Homeland Security Investigations-Victim Assistance Maryland Legal Aid Bureau, Inc. Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center Maryland Department of Juvenile Services Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force Maryland Rescue and Restore Coalition Maryland Stop Modern Slavery National Center for Missing and Exploited Children NHTRC-Polaris Project Safe House of Hope* The Salvation Army Sexual Assault Legal Institute Tahirih Justice Center TurnAround, Inc.* Women’s Law Center

Stakeholders

What are we doing so far?

The Uniform Act (2013) &

Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force

The Uniform Act on Prevention of and Remedies for Human Trafficking (2013)

The Model Act- “Slavery in the land of the free will

not be tolerated”

Minor victims immunity from charges

The uniform act does not address the plight of "bottom girls”

Possible Problems with The Uniform Act

The FBI has recently stated that their top priority is to rescue these women and prevent them from returning to prostitution.

Their second priority is to pursue the trafficker.

Help Victims, Don’t Hurt Them

In states with laws that permit prosecuting the pimps, arresting the pimp has been shown to have bigger results than focusing on arresting the prostitutes.

Johns continue to buy sex because they have always operated without harsh consequences.

This increases demand and the traditional approach is clearly flawed.

Help Victims, Don’t Hurt Them

-By the end of 2012, surpassed goal of reducing violence against women and children by 25%

-As of May 1, 2013, DJS had 578 juvenile admissions in 2 facilities and 34 were identified as minor sex trafficking victims ranging from 14-19 years old.

-Because of MD’s HTTF risk assessments were performed on these girls, they were identified and referred to TurnAround.

MD Human Trafficking Task Force Works

Budget$700,000

(Total)

$350,000Funding for Victims

of Human Trafficking Resources (i.e.

TurnAround, Safe House of Hope)

$300,000Education and training of Law

Enforcement and Hotel Personnel

$50,000Raising awareness in highly concentrated

areas known for human trafficking(Camera’s-$6,000)

$2,000 for 8 camera’s X

3 Main Truck Stops

Observe data from the National Human Trafficking Resource Center◦ Calls from MD should be decreasing

Follow up with Law Enforcement agencies Follow up with Hotel personnel Monitor truck stops & bus stations –Level of activity

decreasing Survey Victim Advocates & Survivors of Human

Trafficking for opinion on progress

Measuring Effectiveness

Jefft, M. (2013). Punishing Pimps and Johns: Sex Trafficking and Utah's Laws. BYU Journal Of Public Law, 28(1), 219.

Polaris Project (2014). National Human Trafficking Resource Center Data Breakdown: Maryland State Report. Retrieved from http://www.polarisproject.org/state-map/maryland

Seidenberg, S. (2013). New legislative strategy is tougher on human trafficking and more supportive of victims. ABA Journal,99(12), 1.

The Abell Foundation. (2013). The Abell Report: Sex Trafficking in Maryland, 26(1) 1-8.

WALKER-RODRIGUEZ, A. (2011). Human Sex Trafficking. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 80(3), 1.

http://store.videosurveillance.com/video-surveillance-systems/8-camera-systems

References