Human trafficking is an estimated multi-billion a year international enterprise that forces the most vulnerable among us into the horrors of modern-day slavery. Criminals who are involved in trafficking other human beings prey upon those already at risk in our society, often our children. In fact, a preliminary report on the scope of the problem in Ohio cited 13 years old as the most common age in Ohio for youth to become victims of child sex trafficking. From the study's sample of 207 individuals, 49 percent were under 18 when they were first trafficked. Nationally, over 100,000 children are thought to be involved in the sex trade.
To combat this problem and end this horrendous abuse, Attorney General Mike DeWine reconvened the Human Trafficking Commission in August of 2011. This built upon the former work of the Trafficking in Persons Study Commission created under previous Attorney General Richard Cordray, which released a report and recommendations for how to combat this crime. The Commission includes elected and appointed officials, members of local, state, and federal law enforcement, public and private social agencies, religious groups, and schools who meet regularly to understand the extent of the problem in Ohio, find ways to help victims, and discover how to investigate and prosecute traffickers.
Most recently, the Human Trafficking Commission helped pass House Bill 262, also known as the Safe Harbor Law. This law was sponsored by Human Trafficking Commission member Representative Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) and focuses on human trafficking and will increase the penalties for traffickers and improve care for victims. The new law will:
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Create new procedures for a diversion program for juvenile trafficking victims
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Allow records of adult human trafficking victims to be expunged
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Change a human trafficking charge to a first degree felony with a mandatory prison term of at least ten years in prison
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Require convicted human traffickers to register as sex offenders
Click here to see the full bill.
The Attorney General's Office cannot fight this problem alone. In order to prosecute those who are preying upon our vulnerable populations, we urge Ohioans to report any information they might have about human trafficking to BCI by calling 1-855-BCI-OHIO (224-6446). This will allow our agents to work with local law enforcement to arrest and prosecute traffickers.
Warning signs of human trafficking to watch for include:
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If you are going into a nail salon, for example, look for sleeping bags that indicate employees are living in the same place where they work and that backrooms appear to be living space. You might notice workers at this salon are driven to the store in groups all at once.
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When a worker answers casual questions, those answers seem scripted or rehearsed.
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Workers may appear exceptionally young or fearful or particularly submissive.
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If you are staying in a hotel or if you work at a hotel, you might see an older male checking in with a young female or females. You might see a young girl refer to that older man as her boyfriend or as "daddy," sometimes street slang for pimp. Look for a tattoo of a man's name, a slang name, or "daddy" on the girl's neck, leg, or shoulder. Does the guest have multiple cell phones, laptops, etc.?
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Are the guests at the hotel frequent customers on weekends, but have a local address and identification?
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Small children serving in a family restaurant.
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Security measures that appear to keep people inside an establishment - barbed wire inside of a fence, bars covering the insides of windows.
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Not allowing people to go into public alone, or speak for themselves.
If you are interested in the Human Trafficking Commission or would like further information, please contact Melinda Sykes, Director of Children's Initiatives, at melinda.sykes@ohioattorneygeneral.gov or 614-995-0328.
