Human Trafficking. Presented by Assistant Chief Kenneth Dean FWPD

Transcription

1 Human Trafficking Presented by Assistant Chief Kenneth Dean FWPD

2 What is Human Trafficking? Texas Law PC Chapter 20 A A person commits an offence if the person knowingly traffics another person or child with the intent that the trafficked person engage in forced labor or services Receives a benefit from participating in a venture that involves an activity described above, including receiving labor or services the person knows are forced labor or services Included offenses: Prostitution, Promotion Prostitution, Sexual Abuse of a Child, Indecency with a Child, Sexual Assault, Sexual Performance by a Child, Employment Harmful to Children, Possession or Promotion of Child Pornography and others. 2

3 Trafficking Victim s Protection Act of 2000 Sex Trafficking Recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person (adult or juvenile) for the purpose of a commercial sex act in which the act is induced by force, fraud or coercion OR the victim is under 18 years of age Labor Trafficking Recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage or slavery 3

4 What to know about Human Trafficking Can be Intra-State, Inter-State or Inter-National Human Trafficking is often related to Organized Crime Human Trafficking can occur in: Brothels, Homes (housekeeping, nannies or servants), Construction industries, Massage Parlors, Restaurants, Bars, Strip Clubs and Agricultural industries Human Trafficking does not just involve immigrants, other at risk groups include drug addicts and run-a-ways Inter-State and Inter-National cases can be transferred to Federal court 4

5 Human Smuggling Human Smuggling is NOT Human Trafficking Humans are Smuggled across the U.S. border A Smuggling relationship ends when the Smuggled Person reaches their destination Smuggling can become Human Trafficking if the client is forced to perform labor or services, such as working off a debt 5

6 Human Trafficking by the Numbers University of Texas at Austin December ,000 Minors and Youth are Victims of Sex Trafficking in Texas 234,000 Workers are Victims of Labor Trafficking Total of approximately 313,000 Victims of Human Trafficking in Texas Traffickers Exploit approximately $600 Million for victims of Labor Trafficking in Texas Minor and Youth Sex Trafficking costs Texas approximately $6.6 Billion 6

7 FWPD Human Trafficking Unit One full time detective One full time officer Two Homeland Security Investigations Agents (DHS) Major Case Unit (6 Detectives, 1 Sergeant) Civilian Task Force Coordinator (Internal Affairs) 7

8 Ft Worth/Dallas metroplex is the state s largest metropolitan area Ft Worth Trafficking Texas is highest in the nation for refugees 100,000 victimized DFW and Houston are highest in the state for trafficking hotline calls

9 January 2015 to January cases investigated Detective worked alone with 1 HSI agent 9

10 January 2016 to January 2017 No detective from Jan-July 2016 HT Unit formed in July cases investigated 27 were juvenile sex trafficking 25 tips investigated that did not turn into HT cases 1 labor trafficking of Honduras national 10

11 January 2017 to April total cases investigated 24 were juvenile sex trafficking 2 were adult sex trafficking 23 tips that did not turn into HT cases 11

12 Cases Numbers Total Cases Tips 20 0 Pre (projected) 12

13 Victims in Juveniles: 39 Adults: 23 Suspects: 73 Potential Victims (not located or identified): 62 13

14 Cases filed (Jan 2015-April 2017) 16 cases filed and accepted for Trafficking of Persons Under 18 for Prostitution and Compelling Prostitution Under 18 3 cases filed and accepted for Compelling Prostitution Force / Threat

15 Polywood Crip Case ( ) Polywood Crip gang on east side Ft. Worth trafficked both adults and juveniles for 3+ years 9 months to complete investigation 9 suspects identified and convicted on federal charges 12 victims identified 30 to 40 additional possible victims (not located or identified) 5 additional suspects identified with charges pending 10 additional victims identified

16 Polywood Federal Convictions Suspect months Suspect months Suspect months Suspect months Suspect months Suspect 6 5 years probation Suspect 7 5 years probation Suspect months Suspect 9 72 months

17 What is FWPD doing about it? Educate field personnel We do not have a dispatch signal for Human Trafficking While officers conduct investigations into assaults, kidnapping, domestic violence, missing persons, or run-a-ways, they may find clues the situation may be related to human trafficking Some of the signs that indicate human trafficking are physical or sexual abuse, lack of identification, no paychecks, tattoos, branding, no friends or family, moving around frequently, long work hours or stash houses

18 Paradigm shifts Officers are being retrained to look at encounters in a different light Prostitution is not a victimless crime, especially when juveniles are involved Prostitutes are frequently the victims of human trafficking Employees sleeping in the back of a business might be a sign of human trafficking The more we look, the more we find 18

19 Interdiction Efforts Develop a proactive investigation component within FWPD Expand Human Trafficking Unit into a stand alone unit Develop Multi Disciplinary Team similar to CACU Specialized investigative training Missing Persons and Run-a-way prevention 5 Stones Taskforce Governor's Comprehensive Community Response 19

20 Tarrant County 5 Stones Task Force Combats domestic sex trafficking and exploitation of minors by creating a continuum-of-care through collaborative efforts Five focus areas Prevention Focus on high-risk youth and coordinated runaway response Intervention Assisting Human Trafficking Unit with victim aftercare services Education The Long Night film screening & Expert panel, Trafficking Info Bus Tour, Not My City canvassing event, School presentations, neighborhood events Advocacy Research and response to current legislative efforts Demand Multi-Agency partnership to create a John School

21 5 Stones Community Partnerships Arlington PD Dallas PD Judge Carr (CCC #9) Congresswoman Kay Granger Congressman Joe Barton Fort Worth Transportation Authority FWPD Victim Assistance Fort Worth ISD Mansfield ISD SafeHaven Tarrant County One Safe Place Texas Christian University Tarleton State University 4theONE Foundation ACH Child and Family Services Alive at Last Alliance for Children BCFS Health and Human Services CASA of Tarrant County Children at Risk Christ Chapel Church Heartcry Ministries Hearts of Faith Ministry Lena Pope Home McKinney Memorial Bible Church Open Door Church Prayer for Freedom Salvation Army Santa Fe Youth Services Tarrant County Community Supervision & Corrections Tarrant County CSCD Tarrant County Homeless Coalition Tarrant County Juvenile Services Tarrant County Public Health Tarrant County Sherriff s Office Texas Initiative Services The Exodus Road The Harkin s Group The Net The Parenting Center The Refuge for DMST North Texas Traffick911 Not in My Neighborhood Awareness Group (FW) U. S. Attorney s Office Dallas and Fort Worth UNT Health Science Center UnBound Valiant Hearts Vincent Genovese Memorial Foundation Youth for Christ

22 Governor s Comprehensive Community Response to Child Sex Trafficking A developing program designed to address human trafficking Identify victims of human trafficking Ensuring victims safety Treatment of physical and emotional trauma Long term advocates Temporary and long term shelter Transitional living Prosecuting crimes 22

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24 Reporting Human Trafficking National Human Trafficking Hotline 1+ (888) Crime Stoppers Hotline (817) FWPD Communications 911 Human Trafficking Detective (817) Stones Task Force (817)

25 Thank you