Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. Traffickers might use violence, manipulation, or false promises of well-paying jobs or romantic relationships to lure victims into trafficking situations.
The Shiawassee County Human Trafficking Task Force, partnered with the Shiawassee Prevention Network (SPN), encourages county residents to educate themselves on human trafficking facts, and spread awareness to youth and adults. Recognizing key indicators of human trafficking is the first step in identifying victims and can help save a life.
The Shiawassee County Human Trafficking Task Force is comprised of representatives of law enforcement including local police, Michigan State Police, FBI, the legal community, community support organizations, educators, and volunteers. The task force has also been working with local school districts to increase awareness of this very important safety issue.