2023-10-19 04:06:08
CHARLESTON — State and local officials in West Virginia are hoping to help the public identify and report suspected incidents of human trafficking, especially of children.
Third Circuit Judge Tim Sweeney is hosting a public forum on human trafficking at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 at St. Marys High School. Sweeney will be joined by Secretary of State Mac Warner.
Human trafficking is a catch-all term for multiple forms of modern-day slavery, where adults and children are forced under threat of violence, blackmail, fraud, or other forms of coercion to engage in illegal work or sex acts against their will. Sweeney said the forum will help the public know how to identify signs of human trafficking and be able to report suspected trafficking.
“The forum is an effort to sort of make the community aware of that, including parents and teachers, so that we can maybe build on that through going into the schools and specifically addressing some of these things and some of these issues with the students and making them aware as well and what to look for,” Sweeney said.
While a known problem internationally, particularly in underdeveloped nations, human trafficking does occur in the U.S. According to a 2022 report from the Department of Justice, 1,169 cases were brought for human trafficking. These include 208 cases for peonage, slavery, forced labor and sex trafficking; 432 cases for transportation for illegal sex activity; and 529 cases for sexual exploitation and other abuse of children.
According to 2020 National Corrections Reporting Program statistics, 37 states reported at least one person with a human trafficking offense either in custody or in post-custody community supervision, with 392 state prison admission being for human trafficking offenses. On the federal level, the government prosecuted 1,343 human trafficking cases in 2020, with 658 convictions.
According to the state Department of Homeland Security, of the 800 calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline since 2007, 550 victims were identified in 246 individual cases in West Virginia. Sweeney said he has been working within the state judicial system to have his probation officers trained on how to identify human trafficking. Sweeney has also been working with public schools to develop curriculum to help school teachers and staff identify potential human trafficking victims.
“You can see those numbers indicate the problem is here,” Sweeney said. “It’s my goal to prevent and take precautions … to be aware, head it off, and avoid it if possible. And of course, the old saying is to be forewarned is to be forearmed. That would be what I’d hope to do with this initiative.”
Warner, who will speak at the forum, launched a statewide coalition of businesses this week to stand against human trafficking. More than 42 businesses and business organizations have signed onto West Virginia Businesses Against Trafficking. The organization is encouraging more businesses to sign up and commit to combating human trafficking.
“Human trafficking is evil, and this coalition is designed to stop the practice, one business and one victim at a time,” Warner said in a statement. “Participation in this cause is of the highest importance; small businesses and large corporations play an equally vital role in disseminating information and supporting victims.”
The Secretary of State’s Office also is using WVBAT to promote the office’s Address Confidentiality Program, which allows victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, stalking and human trafficking to interact with government agencies while ensuring their home addresses are not accessible to the public.
The Secretary of State’s Office also is participating in an anti-trafficking initiative launched last month by Gov. Jim Justice and the West Virginia Fusion Center in the Department of Homeland Security. The “YOU CAN” initiative is a public awareness campaign that encourages the public to report suspect incidents of human trafficking.
“We are going to attack this problem together and work to stop these bad actors and this immoral behavior in our state,” Justice said. “It’s time for all West Virginians, all our agencies, and all our communities to watch out, report and support law enforcement so we can stop this disgusting behavior in our great state.”
The public can report human trafficking tips online at “http://go.wv.gov/TipsHT”>go.wv.gov/TipsHTby email at wvfusion@wv.gov, by phone at 1-888-373-7888, or by texting “Be Free” or 233722. For immediate emergencies or threats, the public is encouraged to dial 911.
“It would be great if somebody makes a referral or indicates they’re concerned about a situation…because there is something afoot with regard to some improper conduct,” Sweeney said.
Steven Allen Adams can be reached at sadams@newsandsentinel.com.
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