National Human Trafficking Awareness Month

The month of January has been designated as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Your Connecticut State Troopers are committed to preventing human trafficking.

Victims may be nannies, farm workers, restaurant workers. They could be working in nightclubs or construction sites, or they may be children who appear to be helping at the family business.

“In our daily activities, each of us may have seen a victim of human trafficking without even knowing it. During this awareness month, we ask Connecticut residents to learn the signs of human trafficking and report suspected human trafficking to police or to the confidential National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.” said Colonel Daniel Loughman, commanding officer of the Connecticut State Police.

Please consider these signs if you suspect a person may have been trafficked:

· Is the person in possession of their travel and identification documents?

· Is the person coached on what to say to law enforcement, immigration officials or members of the community?

· Was the person recruited for one job and forced to work another?

· Are the victim’s wages unlawfully withheld to pay off a debt or fee?

· Is the victim being forced to perform commercial sex acts?

· Has victim or family been threatened with harm if they attempt to leave?

· Has the victim been threatened with deportation or criminal charges

· Has the person(s) been deprived of food, water, sleep, or medical care?

· Can the victim contact family and friends without being monitored?

· Is the person under age 18 and engaged in commercial sex?

· Is the person living in substandard housing?

“As always, we ask Connecticut residents to be our partners in law enforcement. Human trafficking is a real crime with real victims, and we need your help to combat it.” Colonel Loughman said.

The confidential National Human Trafficking Hotline is 1-888-373-7888.