Latest news with #NationalHumanTraffickingHotline
USA Today
12-05-2025
- USA Today
I work with sex trafficking victims. Here's how Diddy's trial could help them.
I work with sex trafficking victims. Here's how Diddy's trial could help them. | Opinion As the public watches Diddy's trial unfold, another audience will be, too: Current victims of human trafficking who don't yet recognize their own exploitation. Show Caption Hide Caption Diddy news: Prosecutors add new charges to criminal case in indictment Embattled music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs was hit with two additional sex crimes charges ahead of his May trial in New York City. This column discusses sex trafficking. If you or someone you know is in danger or in an unsafe situation, the National Human Trafficking Hotline can help. Advocates are available 24/7 by calling 1-888-373-7888 or texting 233733. With Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial for sex trafficking charges now underway, the public will be exposed to a rare, high-profile human trafficking case. But beyond the spectacle, there's an invisible audience paying close attention: current victims of human trafficking who don't yet recognize their own exploitation. At Restore NYC, an anti-trafficking organization serving thousands of survivors across the United States, cases like Combs' often raise the same question from our community: If they weren't locked in a basement or chained to a bed, why didn't they just leave? The answer to that question often varies across cases. Sometimes victims don't report their trafficker due to a fear of deportation. Others are tethered to their trafficker by housing instability, abusive relationships or lack of income. But a surprising number of victims stay in these situations because they simply don't know they're being trafficked. How can this happen? Movies, TV romanticize sex trafficking – and get it wrong Movies and TV shows tend to present two extremes for sex trafficking: an unsuspecting (usually white) woman kidnapped by a violent trafficker and rescued by Liam Neeson, or a romanticized, glamourous depiction of a (usually white) woman's life in the commercial sex trade that in many cases would also meet the legal definition for sex trafficking. Both narratives create an unrealistic expectation of what trafficking 'should' look like. When victims don't see their own experiences reflected in these narratives, it becomes more difficult to reach out for support. Opinion: 'Sound of Freedom' misleads audiences about the horrible reality of human trafficking These portrayals flatten the complex realities of trafficking victims into the helpless damsel or the empowered seductress. In doing so, they erase the experience of millions of victims, especially women of color, who don't fit neatly into these buckets. The sensationalizing of trafficking in media through high-drama abduction scenarios also distracts from the slow-burn exploitation. It often looks like economic coercion, emotional manipulation or grooming. It happens in broad daylight, in cities like ours, with men in power preying on women's vulnerabilities. When inaccurate media representations become our cultural standard for human trafficking, real victims will continue to go unseen and even blamed for their own exploitation. With Black and Latina women making up 88% of trafficking survivors at Restore, it's increasingly important we bring their stories to life in more accurate and nuanced ways. Opinion: A sex trafficking survivor nearly died trying to get out. Here's what she wants others to know. Traffickers exploit disconnect between real life and pop culture 'I've worked with victims that initially didn't understand they were being trafficked – they just thought this is what they had to do in order to hustle and get ahead,' said Lenore Schaffer, Restore's chief program officer. 'Victims will sometimes have an entire lifetime of being conditioned to normalize the objectification of their bodies. Traffickers know how to capitalize on this.' Opinion: Sean 'Diddy' Combs goes by many names. After Cassie video, add 'abuser' to the list. Decades of pop culture have blurred the line between empowerment and exploitation. Three 6 Mafia's 'It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp' won an Oscar for their lyrical portrayal of pimping as a gritty but noble hustle instead of a system of exploitation. 'The Salty Pimp' continues to be one of Big Gay Ice Cream Shop's top selling flavors, despite backlash for a name that shrugs at the reality of sexual exploitation. This casual normalization helps traffickers remain invisible and victims unaware of their exploitation. When pimps are turned into popular Halloween costumes, their real-life violence is often misunderstood. The disconnect between lived experience and public narrative is one traffickers exploit – and it keeps survivors from identifying what's happening to them. 'A survivor I worked with once stayed with her trafficker for years because he introduced her to industry contacts and presented her with lavish gifts. Even though she recognized this was sexual exploitation, in her eyes, it wasn't trafficking because she felt it was a mutually beneficial relationship,' said Schaffer. As the public watches the Combs case unfold, it's crucial we resist the urge to fit victims into familiar molds. This moment marks an opportunity for reflection on how our collective culture, media and language can downplay violence against women. Let's ensure the real experiences of trafficking survivors, especially women of color, are not erased in favor of spectacle. Beck Sullivan, a licensed clinical social worker, is the CEO of Restore NYC, where she has led nationally recognized programs that earned the 2024 Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons. She has more than 16 years of experience in the anti-trafficking field, including prior roles at the Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition and as cofounder of the Valley Against Sex Trafficking (VAST).
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Arkansas attorney general announces $100,000 human trafficking grant
Attorney General Tim Griffin announces the results of human trafficking raids in his Little Rock office on Jan. 24, 2025. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate) Attorney General Tim Griffin's office has received a $100,000 grant to combat human trafficking in Arkansas, he announced Thursday. Griffin secured the grant while attending a bipartisan attorney general conference in Rome and Vatican City that was organized by the Attorney General Alliance and focused on fighting human trafficking worldwide, according to a press release from the AG's office. 'We are the most effective in our fight against international human trafficking right here in Arkansas when we are maximizing relationships, sharing information and learning best practices,' Griffin said. During the trip, which was 'at no cost to taxpayers,' Griffin said he met with experts who specialize in 'illicit massage parlors' and invited some of them to conduct trainings and share insights in Arkansas. Arkansas police announce human trafficking resource in line with governor's legislative goals In January 2023, Griffin announced the creation of a statewide group to combat human trafficking called Statewide Tactical Operations Partnership (STOP) that was to be composed of representatives from federal, state and local law enforcement. More recently, Griffin announced in January that four suspected human trafficking perpetrators were taken into custody following a statewide raid called 'Operation Obscured Vision.' The initiative focused on a dozen 'illicit massage parlors' in Jonesboro, Russellville, Hot Springs, Rogers, Harrison and a Little Rock hotel. Officials identified 17 purported trafficking victims who were 29-65 years old, and 16 accepted services from medical staff and advocacy groups that partnered with the operation, Griffin said. Also in January, just days after the governor cited public safety as one of her priorities for the 2025 legislative session, Arkansas State Police announced a new website that provides human trafficking victims with county-level resources. Legislators approved a number of laws related to human trafficking during the legislative session that adjourned Monday, including one that would require information about the National Human Trafficking Hotline to be posted in a nail salon or massage business licensed by the Arkansas Department of Health. Other new laws create enhanced penalties for recruiting trafficked people from certain places, and require those convicted of violating the Human Trafficking Act of 2013 to pay mandatory restitution to victims, among other things. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Human trafficking is everywhere, especially here in GA. This new app will help you report it
Sex trafficking is a $10 billion industry, and it's happening everywhere. We've found a new app that is designed to make it easier to report traffickers to the police. Lala Appleberry said she eventually learned that her boyfriend - the man she trusted - was a trafficker. 'It started with hugging, touching, kissing, things like that. And it grew. It became more, the ask became more,' Appleberry said. 'I didn't realize it was boyfriend to trafficker. It was, 'This is my boyfriend and I'm going to help him' cause we live together and we're doing this together. I'm his Bonnie, he's my Clyde. He needs help, and he has helped me. Unfortunately, her story is very common. TRENDING STORIES: Pope Leo XIV: Who is the first American pope? Hall County teacher accused of having inappropriate relationship with middle schooler North Georgia paramedic accused of installing camera in ambulance office restroom 'This could be happening in your neighborhood and your bougie neighborhood in Milton, or Cobb County, or Johns Creek, or Peachtree City, or Buckhead, or Brookhaven. It is happening, it could be on your street, and you might not know,' said Titania Jordon, chief parent officer of Bark Technologies. Bark helps parents keep track of the online activity of their kids. Jordon was in Washington as details of Operation Burn Notice were revealed. The multi-agency undercover effort targeting sex trafficking nabbed 17 people in Henry County. 'There's a new app called Simply Report out. That helps to fight human trafficking. You know, unfortunately, the National Human Trafficking Hotline has left too many victims without help,' Jordon said. Simply Report helps users identify and report trafficking indicators to the authorities. 'It's going to empower those who are involved in trafficking, those victims and hopefully survivors, to be able to report without worrying that they're going to get arrested for being in this industry,' Jordon said. Here is how you can download the app: Apple, Google Play
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
States, including Michigan, push to combat human trafficking amid federal funding cuts
MIAMI, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 06: Posters urging people to report sex trafficking are seen at a metromover rail stop on November 06, 2019 in Miami, Florida. The posters and other forms of media including a Metromover rail car wrap is part of a campaign by local, state, and federal agencies and partners to combat sex trafficking leading up to and beyond Super Bowl LIV. (Photo by) For help, call 1-888-373-7888 or text *233733 for the 24/7 National Human Trafficking Hotline, a national, toll-free hotline. States are moving to strengthen protections against human trafficking, but some advocates warn that federal funding cuts could undermine efforts to support survivors. This year, lawmakers in several states have introduced bills to expand education, strengthen penalties and fund survivor support. But some victim service providers say these efforts might fall short, with millions of dollars in federal cuts threatening programs that help trafficking victims heal and rebuild their lives. Human trafficking is the exploitation of people through force, fraud or coercion for the purposes of sex or labor. It often involves victims who lack control over their circumstances — whether due to threats, manipulation or economic dependency — and can occur in both illicit and legal industries, from commercial sex work to agriculture, domestic work and construction. A poll released in March by the University of California, Irvine and the anti-trafficking nonprofit EverFree found that while nearly 99% of Americans view trafficking as a global and national issue, only about 80% believe it's a problem in their own state — a gap that hinders local prevention efforts, experts say. The poll, which was conducted in October, also found that just 19% of respondents ranked human trafficking as a top national concern. 'Because it's such a dark, challenging issue, there's a dissonance that happens where you don't want to believe that [trafficking] happens in your community,' Kelsey Morgan, the CEO and co-founder of EverFree, said in an interview. 'To admit or to acknowledge that it's happening in your community requires action.' Lawmakers across the country are considering or have already passed a range of bills this year aimed at curbing human trafficking and supporting survivors. Many approaches focus on prevention, education, tougher penalties and expanding support services. In Michigan, a pair of new laws will allow certain hearsay statements from trafficking survivors to be admitted in court and permit relevant prior acts to be used as evidence in human trafficking cases. In March, Utah enacted a law that increases criminal penalties for sex and labor trafficking offenses. In Tennessee, a new law set to take effect next year requires tattoo artists to complete up to one hour of training on recognizing and reporting signs of trafficking. In California, lawmakers are considering a bill that would establish a 'Survivor Support Fund' and criminalize loitering with the intent to purchase sex. The Oregon House passed legislation in April targeting illicit massage businesses by expanding enforcement authority and increasing criminal penalties and fines. Other states are taking steps to raise awareness and improve accountability. The Florida and Montana legislatures passed bills mandating trafficking prevention education and training in schools. Both bills await action by governors. To admit or to acknowledge that it's happening in your community requires action. – Kelsey Morgan, the CEO and co-founder of EverFree A bill in Indiana would require gas stations, rest areas and welcome centers to display trafficking awareness posters, and mandate training for employees at food and lodging establishments. It passed in April and was sent to the governor. Lawmakers in Florida and Georgia also have passed legislation that aims to strengthen criminal trafficking penalties, particularly in trafficking cases involving children or people with disabilities. Minnesota is weighing several new proposals, including one to increase oversight of adult entertainment venues and massage parlors. The governor signed into law another measure that will require biennial legislative reports on the state's child trafficking prevention efforts. Funding to help victims recover Some advocates say the legislation nationwide reflects growing awareness of trafficking's scope — but caution that without consistent funding for victim services and a deeper public understanding of the issue, laws alone won't be enough to support survivors or prevent trafficking. In late April, the U.S. Department of Justice canceled 365 federal public safety grants — including some that supported anti-human trafficking programs — disrupting a wide range of services for crime victims, local police departments and correctional facilities. Since then, the department has restored at least two of the canceled grants — one supporting a national crime victim hotline and another funding a national domestic violence network. The cuts, which totaled $811 million, were administered through the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which awarded roughly $3 billion in competitive grants during the 2024 fiscal year, according to Reuters. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the cuts in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating that the department has cut 'millions of dollars in wasteful grants.' She also signaled that additional cuts may be on the way. Underreported to police Human trafficking data in the United States is limited, but available figures suggest the problem is both widespread and underreported. FBI data shows that in 2023, there were 2,584 reported trafficking incidents and 3,117 identified victims — a sharp increase from just 22 incidents in 2013, when the agency began tracking trafficking through its Uniform Crime Reporting system. The rise is largely attributed to more law enforcement agencies participating in the data collection system. Separate data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, which offers support to victims, identified 9,619 trafficking cases in 2023 — up from 5,551 in 2015. In 2023, the hotline received more than 30,000 tips, or 'signals.' Experts and advocates emphasize that both the hotline and the crime data capture only a fraction of trafficking incidents, given the hidden nature of the crime and the barriers victims face in reporting to police. Although national data struggles to capture the full scope of trafficking, Minnesota is among the states that have taken extra steps to build their own data collection systems to better understand the issue and support victims. Its efforts have drawn attention for state officials' focus on both urban and rural communities, as well as on Native populations that often face barriers to accessing services. Experts say it's a common misconception that trafficking is primarily an urban issue — in reality, it can and does happen everywhere. Still, some victims — including boys and men — may be overlooked. 'Sometimes for male youth, they are not identified as victims. They may show up in the criminal justice system as defendants or they may be adjudicated as juvenile delinquents,' said Caroline Palmer, the human trafficking prevention director at the Minnesota Department of Health. 'There's not really a close look at what might be happening in the background in terms of their victimization and trafficking exploitation.' Palmer noted that while Minnesota offers programming for all genders, some male-identifying people may not feel comfortable with certain services, highlighting the need for more tailored support to meet everyone's unique needs. More than three-quarters of respondents to the UC Irvine-EverFree poll said being a woman greatly increases the risk of trafficking, but only 2% of respondents said the same about men — despite the fact that trafficking affects people of all genders. Public perceptions about survivors were also influenced by the victim's age: While 83% of respondents believe minors who are trafficked are always victims, only 61% say the same about adults — a gap that, advocates warn, can contribute to the criminalization of adult survivors. Stateline reporter Amanda Hernández can be reached at ahernandez@ Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
States push to combat human trafficking amid federal funding cuts
Posters encouraging the reporting of sex trafficking are displayed at a Metromover rail stop in Miami. During this year's legislative session, Florida lawmakers have proposed several bills aimed at increasing awareness, providing training and strengthening criminal penalties related to trafficking. () For help, call 1-888-373-7888 or text *233733 for the 24/7 National Human Trafficking Hotline, a national, toll-free hotline. States are moving to strengthen protections against human trafficking, but some advocates warn that federal funding cuts could undermine efforts to support survivors. This year, lawmakers in several states have introduced bills to expand education, strengthen penalties and fund survivor support. But some victim service providers say these efforts might fall short, with millions of dollars in federal cuts threatening programs that help trafficking victims heal and rebuild their lives. Human trafficking is the exploitation of people through force, fraud or coercion for the purposes of sex or labor. It often involves victims who lack control over their circumstances — whether due to threats, manipulation or economic dependency — and can occur in both illicit and legal industries, from commercial sex work to agriculture, domestic work and construction. A poll released in March by the University of California, Irvine and the anti-trafficking nonprofit EverFree found that while nearly 99% of Americans view trafficking as a global and national issue, only about 80% believe it's a problem in their own state — a gap that hinders local prevention efforts, experts say. The poll, which was conducted in October, also found that just 19% of respondents ranked human trafficking as a top national concern. 'Because it's such a dark, challenging issue, there's a dissonance that happens where you don't want to believe that [trafficking] happens in your community,' Kelsey Morgan, the CEO and co-founder of EverFree, said in an interview. 'To admit or to acknowledge that it's happening in your community requires action.' Lawmakers across the country are considering or have already passed a range of bills this year aimed at curbing human trafficking and supporting survivors. Many approaches focus on prevention, education, tougher penalties and expanding support services. In Michigan, a pair of new laws will allow certain hearsay statements from trafficking survivors to be admitted in court and permit relevant prior acts to be used as evidence in human trafficking cases. In March, Utah enacted a law that increases criminal penalties for sex and labor trafficking offenses. In Tennessee, a new law set to take effect next year requires tattoo artists to complete up to one hour of training on recognizing and reporting signs of trafficking. In California, lawmakers are considering a bill that would establish a 'Survivor Support Fund' and criminalize loitering with the intent to purchase sex. The Oregon House passed legislation in April targeting illicit massage businesses by expanding enforcement authority and increasing criminal penalties and fines. Other states are taking steps to raise awareness and improve accountability. The Florida and Montana legislatures passed bills mandating trafficking prevention education and training in schools. Both bills await action by governors. To admit or to acknowledge that it's happening in your community requires action. – Kelsey Morgan, the CEO and co-founder of EverFree A bill in Indiana would require gas stations, rest areas and welcome centers to display trafficking awareness posters, and mandate training for employees at food and lodging establishments. It passed in April and was sent to the governor. Lawmakers in Florida and Georgia also have passed legislation that aims to strengthen criminal trafficking penalties, particularly in trafficking cases involving children or people with disabilities. Minnesota is weighing several new proposals, including one to increase oversight of adult entertainment venues and massage parlors. The governor signed into law another measure that will require biennial legislative reports on the state's child trafficking prevention efforts. Funding to help victims recover Some advocates say the legislation nationwide reflects growing awareness of trafficking's scope — but caution that without consistent funding for victim services and a deeper public understanding of the issue, laws alone won't be enough to support survivors or prevent trafficking. In late April, the U.S. Department of Justice canceled 365 federal public safety grants — including some that supported anti-human trafficking programs — disrupting a wide range of services for crime victims, local police departments and correctional facilities. Since then, the department has restored at least two of the canceled grants — one supporting a national crime victim hotline and another funding a national domestic violence network. The cuts, which totaled $811 million, were administered through the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which awarded roughly $3 billion in competitive grants during the 2024 fiscal year, according to Reuters. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the cuts in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating that the department has cut 'millions of dollars in wasteful grants.' She also signaled that additional cuts may be on the way. Underreported to police Human trafficking data in the United States is limited, but available figures suggest the problem is both widespread and underreported. FBI data shows that in 2023, there were 2,584 reported trafficking incidents and 3,117 identified victims — a sharp increase from just 22 incidents in 2013, when the agency began tracking trafficking through its Uniform Crime Reporting system. The rise is largely attributed to more law enforcement agencies participating in the data collection system. Separate data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, which offers support to victims, identified 9,619 trafficking cases in 2023 — up from 5,551 in 2015. In 2023, the hotline received more than 30,000 tips, or 'signals.' Experts and advocates emphasize that both the hotline and the crime data capture only a fraction of trafficking incidents, given the hidden nature of the crime and the barriers victims face in reporting to police. Although national data struggles to capture the full scope of trafficking, Minnesota is among the states that have taken extra steps to build their own data collection systems to better understand the issue and support victims. Its efforts have drawn attention for state officials' focus on both urban and rural communities, as well as on Native populations that often face barriers to accessing services. Experts say it's a common misconception that trafficking is primarily an urban issue — in reality, it can and does happen everywhere. Still, some victims — including boys and men — may be overlooked. 'Sometimes for male youth, they are not identified as victims. They may show up in the criminal justice system as defendants or they may be adjudicated as juvenile delinquents,' said Caroline Palmer, the human trafficking prevention director at the Minnesota Department of Health. 'There's not really a close look at what might be happening in the background in terms of their victimization and trafficking exploitation.' Palmer noted that while Minnesota offers programming for all genders, some male-identifying people may not feel comfortable with certain services, highlighting the need for more tailored support to meet everyone's unique needs. More than three-quarters of respondents to the UC Irvine-EverFree poll said being a woman greatly increases the risk of trafficking, but only 2% of respondents said the same about men — despite the fact that trafficking affects people of all genders. Public perceptions about survivors were also influenced by the victim's age: While 83% of respondents believe minors who are trafficked are always victims, only 61% say the same about adults — a gap that, advocates warn, can contribute to the criminalization of adult survivors. Stateline reporter Amanda Hernández can be reached at ahernandez@ SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
