New Statewide Effort to Fight Human Trafficking

Monday, January 30th, 2023 -- 11:01 AM

(By Rob Mentzer, Wisconsin Public Radio) A new statewide effort to fight human trafficking in Wisconsin will bring together law enforcement agencies, victim advocates and federal investigators in the hope of reaching those who are coerced into sex work or labor.

According to Rob Mentzer with Wisconsin Public Radio, Attorney General Josh Kaul announced the creation of the Wisconsin Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force this month. At a press conference Thursday in Wausau, he said the new task force will help ensure that law enforcement agencies and victim advocates are working together to fight trafficking.

"That kind of collaboration is critical," Kaul said. "Often, when law enforcement responds to a location where there's human trafficking activity, the first response of a survivor is not to immediately want to cooperate."

That may be because their captors are exploiting their vulnerabilities, Kaul said, such as mental health issues, opioid addiction or a lack of access to affordable housing. A person is the victim of human trafficking when they're forced or coerced into the sex trade or other labor.

In some cases, victims of human trafficking for the sex industry may be minors. But in many cases, it may involve adult victims who in the recent past might simply have been charged with prostitution or drug crimes themselves.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.