Human Trafficking on the Rise in Indiana

Hundreds of victims are being exploited and forced into labor or sex acts across Indiana, but a recent symposium aims to put a stop to this heinous crime. Human trafficking, the recruitment, harboring, transportation or procurement of a person for labor or services that are involuntary servitude, slavery or forced commercial sex acts, has become a major concern in the state.

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, David Capp, hosted a symposium for law enforcement, prosecutors, schools, department of child services and others to educate officials about the signs of human trafficking and how to combat it. The event, which drew over 100 attendees, was a result of a combined effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Northern Indiana.

“The Northern District of Indiana is fully engaged with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners along with governmental and non-governmental organizations in preventing, fighting and aggressively prosecuting all forms of human trafficking”, said U.S. Attorney Capp. “We are committed to combating these horrific crimes by aggressively bringing traffickers to justice and providing assistance to victims.”

The training provided attendees with the tools needed to identify, investigate and prosecute all forms of human trafficking. Experts from various agencies shared their knowledge and experience, giving officials the skills to tackle this complex issue. This symposium is just one part of a larger effort to combat human trafficking in the state.

“Human trafficking is a crime that affects us all,” said U.S. Attorney Capp. “It is a crime that requires a collaborative effort to combat. I am proud of the work being done by our law enforcement partners, schools, and other organizations to prevent and combat human trafficking in our state.”

If you have any information on possible human trafficking, please contact either the Polaris Project National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or the Department of Homeland Security Tip line at1-866-DHS-2-ICE. Together, we can make a difference in the fight against human trafficking.

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