Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s office is taking preemptive measures this year to combat human trafficking during the Indy 500.
Zoeller’s office will train law enforcement officers and those who work in tourism throughout this week to recognize, fight against and prevent human trafficking, according to a May 9 release from the Attorney General’s Office.
Human trafficking issues tend to increase in large groups of people, including for the 2015 NCAA Final Four Championship in Indianapolis, the release stated. The Attorney General’s Office monitored human trafficking ads through the website Backpage.com and found more than 100 ads posted per day.
According to the press release, there were 18 commercial sex-related arrests during the 2015 championship weekend.
Human trafficking is defined by the Attorney General’s Office as “buying or selling individuals for sex or labor,” and it’s the second largest criminal industry in the world and growing fast. It has generated $150.2 billion, the release stated, and around 300,000 children in America are at risk of being pulled into the world of sex trafficking, at an average age of 12-14.
Zoeller is the co-chair of the Indiana Protection for Abused and Trafficked Humans Task Force and is working with both the National Attorneys General Training & Research Institute and the FBI to train law officers, investigators and local hotels to recognize signs of human trafficking and sex trafficking.
IPATH provides an online list of what to look for in trafficking victims, including poor mental health, avoiding eye contact and other abnormal behavior, few personal possessions and even brands, like tattoos, of their trafficker.
“As long as there is demand for commercial sex, traffickers will continue to illegally and ruthlessly exploit children,” Zoeller said in the press release. “These networks have gotten more sophisticated and new technologies allow them to operate largely undetected, but there are red flags and warning signs that can alert people to these crimes.”
Zoeller has been working since 2011, according to the release, to reduce human trafficking crimes and raise awareness for the victims in need of support.
His office debuted a public awareness plan called “Not Buying It” last year and launched a website designed to educate people on human trafficking and help clear up some of the myths surrounding the practice.
This year, Zoeller advocated for legislation that would increase criminal penalties for some of the worst crimes against children in sex trafficking. Several of these new policies passed, including increasing the penalties for possession of child pornography and child exploitation.
Zoeller’s team will continue to train officers and officials to recognize signs of human trafficking, but he said in the release it’s not just professionals who can make a difference.
“Law enforcement will be on guard, but members of the public — particularly those in the tourism industry who may see signs of these crimes — can also play a critical role in spotting this activity and getting victims help,” he said.
Anicka Slachta
