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Human Trafficking

Human Trafficking. Steve Searcy, Executive Director One Place Family Justice Center & Carrie Gray, Deputy District Attorney Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. One Place Family Justice Center. One stop shop for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child, and elder abuse

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Human Trafficking

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  1. Human Trafficking Steve Searcy, Executive Director One Place Family Justice Center & Carrie Gray, Deputy District Attorney Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office

  2. One Place Family Justice Center • One stop shop for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child, and elder abuse • Partners in-house • Co-location with law enforcement, nurses, civil attorneys, advocates, Neighbors in Christ • Outside Partners • Task Forces • Communication, collaboration, coordination

  3. Vertical Prosecution • Domestic Violence • Violence Against Women • VAWA grant • Human Trafficking • Sexual Assault • SORNA – Sex offender registration • Family Violence Unit • Child sex and physical abuse crimes

  4. Human Trafficking Law • Prior to the new law, when dealing with a trafficking situation, state and local law enforcement had limited, specific crimes they could pursue or investigate, including: rape, theft, assault, sexual assault, murder, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, sodomy, and promoting prostitution. • Alabama’s Human Trafficking Law became effective July 1, 2010

  5. Promoting Prostitution • Lower class felonies • Limited to prostitution • Sexual servitude under human trafficking is much more broad • Does not include labor servitude • Bonded labor • Forced labor • Still good law

  6. Alabama’s Law Says: • It is unlawful for a person, by coercion or deception, to cause another person to work or perform services having financial value or require that person to perform certain sexual activities • Coercion • Deception • Work/Labor Servitude • Sexual servitude

  7. Labor Servitude • The law makes labor servitude in its various forms illegal for the first time in Alabama. • Bonded labor • Forced labor

  8. Sexual Servitude Includes: • Sexually explicit performances, whether public or private, live, photographed, recorded, videotaped, or projected over the Internet. • Commercial sex acts, meaning any sex act on account of which anything of value is given, promised to, or received, directly or indirectly, by any person. • Rape, Sex Abuse, Sexual Torture • Much more expansive than Promoting Prostitution

  9. Additional Penalties • Forfeiture of profits/proceeds/interest in property • Cash/cars/technology • Mandatory restitution to the victim and investigating/prosecuting agencies • Medical/psychological treatment • Relocation fees including housing/utility deposits • Creates penalties for corporations if an agent commits the crime while in the scope of employment and on behalf of the corporation; or it was authorized by the corporation; or there was a pattern of conduct that the corporation should’ve known about • Hotel desk clerks

  10. How to help protect students • Internet safety • Recognition of Signs of Human Trafficking • Report suspicions • Educate children • Educate parents

  11. How to recognize victims • Has unexplained absences from school for a long period of time • Demonstrates an inability to attend school on a regular basis • Chronically runs away from home • Makes references to frequent travel to other cities • Exhibits bruises or other physical trauma, withdrawn behavior, depression, or fear • Lacks control over her or his schedule or identification documents • Is hungry-malnourished or inappropriately dressed (based on weather conditions or surroundings) • Shows signs of drug addiction • Demonstrates a sudden change in attire, behavior, or material possessions (e.g., has expensive items) • Makes references to sexual situations that are beyond age-specific norms • Has a “boyfriend” who is noticeably older (10+ years) • Makes references to terminology of the commercial sex industry that are beyond age specific norms; engages in promiscuous behavior and may be labeled “fast” by peers

  12. Sexual Servitude Victims and Domestic Violence Victims • Cyclical • Honeymoon phase • 5-7 attempts to leave/return to abuser • Financial control • “Feed ‘em, house ‘em, clothe ‘em, keep ‘em broke.” • Victims: • May not feel like a victim • May give a statement to police then recant • May love the offender; consider him family • Both types are in a deadly situation

  13. CoercionDeception

  14. 2 Montgomery Cases • Same hotel • Adds on Backpage.com • Undercover operations • Cash • Tattoos • Dr. Seuss shirts • Transportation • Intense allegiance • “Pimping is what I do, live, breathe.”

  15. Hierarchy

  16. Breaking up is hard to do… • Love When you are 35? • Religious concerns • Family pressure • Financial concerns • Children together When you are 15? • Where to live? • Love • Fear of the unknown When you are 55? • Stress

  17. Call to report suspicion of HT: National Human Trafficking Resource Center 1.888.3737.888

  18. New law: Post hotline number • Effective January 1, 2013, Alabama law requires certain establishments to display the National Human Trafficking Resource Center toll-free hotline number, 1-888-373-7888. The hotline provides information on human trafficking and resources for victims in 170 languages. Establishments required to post this information include hotels and massage parlors that have been cited as nuisances, airports, bus and train stations, and establishments offering stripteasing or topless entertaining.

  19. Central Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force • Meetings every other month at One Place Family Justice Center, 530 S. Lawrence Street • Prosecutors • Local, State, Federal • Law enforcement • Advocates • School Nurses and Security officials • Child Abuse and Neglect professionals • College Students • Concerned Community Members • Alabama Fusion Center • Survivors • Faith Community • Other cities: Huntsville

  20. Areas of need: • Community Awareness • Coordination of resources • Housing • Shelter gap • Mental health treatment • Drug treatment • Prevention v. Rescue

  21. What to do: • Wear a ribbon • Spread the word • Shop consciously • Attend the Task Force meetings • Give • Coordinate educational/awareness meetings • Volunteer • Attend awareness events, such as January 11th – Human Trafficking Awareness Day

  22. Thank you! • Steve Searcy, Executive Director • One Place Family Justice Center • 334-262-7378 • 530 S. Lawrence Street, Montgomery • Please come visit and take a tour! • www.Oneplacefjc.org • Carrie Gray, Deputy District Attorney • Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office

  23. National Human Trafficking Resource Center 1.888.3737.888

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