Sex trafficking is occurring in more out-of-the-way locations than ever before, making it more difficult for law enforcement to detect, according to a new report from the Ohio Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Commission.
The Domestic Sex Trafficking in Ohio report, released in August, found that victims are most often exploited in johns’ homes or offices or in houses set up for prostitution. While not uncommon, trafficking is less likely to occur in traditional venues such as hourly hotels, on the streets, in cars, or at truck stops.
The study also emphasizes the risks runaways face. Sixty-three percent of victims surveyed were first runaways. Statistics show more than 11,000 Ohio youth run away each year.
Study findings and recommendations can be found at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/HumanTrafficking.
AG partners with Salvation Army
To help address the problem, the Attorney General’s Office and Salvation Army in Central Ohio have formed the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Collaborative.
Funded by $700,000 in U.S. Department of Justice grants, the partnership will fund the hiring of two BCI agents to work exclusively on trafficking issues; a full-time victim advocate position; and victim assistance programs that complement existing Salvation Army services. The collaborative will stress proactive, victim-centered law enforcement methods and provide victims with mental and physical health screenings and temporary housing.
Law enforcement needed
Law enforcement officers interested in working on trafficking-related policy issues are urged to volunteer for the Human Trafficking Commission’s Law Enforcement Subcommittee. For more information, contact the Attorney General’s Office at 614-995-0328.