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Attorney General Mike DeWine
2015 Human
Trafficking Annual Report Released
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today released the
Ohio Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Commission’s 2015 Annual
Report, which outlines efforts of the Commission to improve services to
human trafficking victims; to assist local law enforcement's efforts to
combat trafficking; and to educate Ohioans on human trafficking and
what can be done to stop it.
“Human trafficking is a worldwide problem that is also found here in
Ohio,” said Attorney General DeWine. “We continue to make progress in
rescuing those entrapped. And all of us can help fight this by becoming
informed and watchful. Ohioans can report any information they might
have about human trafficking to BCI by calling 1-855-BCI-OHIO
(224-6446).”
In 2015, local law enforcement agencies reported more potential human
trafficking investigations and arrests than ever before. Law
enforcement reported 102 human trafficking investigations leading to
104 arrests and 33 successful criminal convictions.
There were 203 potential victims of human trafficking identified, with
196 being female. Of the potential victims, three were aged 12 and
under, four were aged 13, 23 were 14-15 years old, 30 were 16-17 years
old, 16 were 18-20 years old.
The majority of the suspected cases included in the law enforcement
data were sex trafficking, but six potential labor trafficking victims
were identified. Of the potential victims, one was aged 13, two were
16-17 years old, and three were 30-40 years old.
Law enforcement agencies are tasked with categorizing the social and/or
economic factors leading the victim to be trafficked. In 40 of the
cases, the underlying risk factor was identified as “runaway and
homeless youth.” In 22 cases, “truancy” was listed as a risk factor.
The majority of cases that reported risk factors identified
“drug/alcohol/other dependency” (72 cases).
In addition, 130 suspected traffickers, including 129 potential sex
traffickers and one potential labor trafficker, were identified.
The number of suspected consumers or buyers/johns identified by law
enforcement in 2015 was 192, the vast majority of which were identified
as potential consumers of sex trafficking (167).
The Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) actively trains local
law enforcement to identify and investigate cases of human trafficking
in Ohio. In 2015, more than 4,100 Ohio Peace Officers took part in and
completed human trafficking training through OPOTA.
A copy of the report can be found on the Ohio Attorney General's
website.
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