Iowans have been hearing a lot about human trafficking lately—that it’s taking place here in the heartland and how they can help stop it. Human trafficking is the trade of humans, most commonly for sexual slavery, forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation.
More than 150 people recently gathered in Marshalltown to hear from experts on sex trafficking and Iowa’s anti-trafficking efforts. Anti-trafficking organizations, law enforcement, the Attorney General’s Office, private businesses and others are raising awareness, ensuring perpetrators are punished and providing help to victims.
Karen Gale, a victim specialist with the FBI, says all the victims she has worked with in Iowa have been white females between the ages of 12 and 16. These victims are forced to “behave” or suffer retribution, which may include torture.
Clear Channel has teamed up with local, state and federal law enforcement in central Iowa to educate the public with 30 digital billboards in Polk County displaying messages about human trafficking. The billboards also alert victims on how to get help and educate citizens on what they can do to end this horrific crime.
The Iowa Senate is also a partner in the fight against human trafficking. We hope the House will agree to portions of Senate File 497 that ramp up efforts against trafficking by:
- Requiring the Crime Victim Assistance Division of the Attorney General’s Office to develop and conduct outreach, public awareness and training on human trafficking, and allowing the division to use money out of the Victim Compensation Fund for these efforts.
- Providing funding to the Attorney General’s Office to train local law enforcement and county attorneys to recognize and prosecute human trafficking, and make grants to local law enforcement to cover overtime costs from anti-human trafficking efforts. Senator Kevin Kinney of rural Oxford, a former Johnson County Deputy Sheriff who participated in human trafficking rescues and arrests, says officers may be awake for up to 48 hours during investigations.
- Giving the Department of Public Safety the funding to devote an employee to work exclusively on human trafficking efforts.
To report suspected human trafficking or for victims in need of help, contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center by calling 1-888-373-7888 or texting BeFree (233733). Your call is toll-free and confidential.