ISP highlight progress in fight against human trafficking during awareness month

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, a time to shed light on a crime Illinois State Police say is far more common, and far closer to home than many people realize.

Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said human trafficking affects urban, suburban and rural communities alike, including Central Illinois. He pointed to the state’s major interstate corridors as one reason traffickers can move victims through communities large and small.

“If we think we’re immune and that does not happen here, we’re kidding ourselves,” Kelly said. “That crime is real. The victims are real. We need to help them.”

During Human Trafficking Awareness Month, ISP has highlighted significant progress made in recent years. Kelly said Illinois recently earned an “A” rating from national victim advocacy groups that evaluate how states respond to and support survivors of human trafficking. That is a dramatic improvement from an “F” just a few years ago.

“We worked very, very hard for the past couple of years through enforcement efforts, legislative changes and partnerships here in the state of Illinois to improve our approaches to victims of human trafficking,” Kelly said. “We very proudly have gone from an F to an A in terms of how we are handling and being supportive of victims.”

Kelly credited that improvement to increased training for officers, expanded law enforcement resources, and a greater focus on trauma-informed policing. Officers are now trained to recognize indicators of human trafficking during routine encounters such as traffic stops or low-level criminal investigations.

“Human trafficking has been going on for many years, but it has not always been recognized for what it was,” Kelly said. “That training has helped our officers better recognize human trafficking when it’s occurring and respond appropriately to victims.”

About six months ago, ISP partnered with Decatur Police, the McLean County Sheriff’s Office, the Howard Buffett Foundation and other agencies to form the Human Trafficking Enforcement Group. The statewide command is based in Decatur and is already producing results.

“Numerous investigations have been opened, numerous arrests have been made and a growing number of victims are being served and connected with the resources they need,” Kelly said.

Kelly said collaboration between law enforcement and social service providers is critical, especially since victims are often forced into committing crimes themselves.

“Sometimes the person we initially encounter for a low-level offense is actually a victim of a much larger and more serious crime,” Kelly said. “We have to be able to see the bigger picture and confront the entire human trafficking enterprise.”

As Human Trafficking Awareness Month continues, Kelly emphasized that progress depends on continued cooperation between law enforcement, community partners and the public.

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