'Shifted the entire landscape': State AG's new unit investigates reports, provides network for law enforcement
It was founded in January 2024 by then-Attorney General Michelle Henry, marking the first time the commonwealth had a division specifically dedicated to combating human trafficking.
'Our goals are to keep expanding the network of law enforcement officers that are committed to stopping human trafficking, to conduct more thorough investigations, to have successful prosecutions and also to keep the lines of communication open,' said current Attorney General Dave Sunday, a Republican.
'The reality is that the more traffickers are charged, the more survivors there are in recovery, and then the more public awareness exists in the community about human trafficking.'
Pa. AG says human trafficking 'scourge' in need of more public awareness
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday testifies in February 2025 in the state House during a budget hearing.
State Sen. Cris Dush, R-Jefferson, said Sunday has been 'great' in dealing with human trafficking and has some 'really dedicated people that have taken this to heart' working in the section.
'The problem for the attorney general's office prior to about two years ago was that the people investigating it were a part of the organized crime unit,' said Dush, a leading figure in the state's anti-trafficking efforts. 'It was pulling resources away from it. And there was a need there to actually develop some expertise.'
Dush said he would like to get at least $1.5 million or even $2 million in the budget to expand staffing of the human trafficking section. He thinks that level of funding would bolster the unit in carrying out its mission.
'As (the attorney general), and the local law enforcement, and state police and others are diving into this and starting to bring prosecutions, we're going to hear more about it,' Dush said. 'It's not necessarily that the human trafficking has increased. It's that with the reporting, we're finding it and it's going to be more relevant.'
'In any community'
Sunday, who took office in January, said there has been an increase in collaboration and communication among state, regional and local partners, along with the public becoming more aware of the issue.
'The data, again, are overwhelming that you have better outcomes when that does happen,' Sunday said.
Incidents have been reported all across the commonwealth.
'Human trafficking is something that isn't limited to certain types of areas,' Sunday said. 'It's something that can happen in any community. We want to make sure that not just law enforcement, but the public as well, that they're aware of the signs of human trafficking. And when that happens, just like any other crime, then it's way more likely that a victim of human trafficking will be spotted and someone will report it to law enforcement.'
'Trafficking and drugs'
There are often some common links – specifically drugs – in human trafficking cases, according to Sunday. That could be the trafficker being a dealer, the victim having substance abuse problems or both.
'Human trafficking and drugs go hand-in-hand,' Sunday said.
Sunday said traffickers often recruit people and keep them under the influence of drugs – preying on individuals they view as money-making property.
'That is truly repulsive and dehumanizing behavior,' Sunday said.
He said that 'oftentimes' investigations into human trafficking start with a drug case.
'The laws in Pennsylvania changed (a few years ago) to include within the definition of human trafficking people that are performing sex in return for drugs,' Sunday said. 'When that happened, it completely shifted the entire landscape on how law enforcement views human trafficking investigations.'
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