\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nStephen Dwight:<\/b> If a person comes in regular contact with children, even as a volunteer, they are more than likely covered under Louisiana\u2019s Childrens Code and required to report it.<\/p>\n
David Duplechain:<\/b> If you are in that situation and a kid comes to you and hints there is something inappropriate going on in their life, the best thing to do is be honest and upfront about it. Tell them they can tell you anything, but if somebody\u2019s in danger or might be hurt, you may have to report it. Maybe they won\u2019t disclose it right then, but just by being there for them you have started the process. Say to them \u201cyou know what, I\u2019ve got some friends that can help you, and I\u2019d like you to talk to them\u201d and then expand the process from there.<\/p>\n
Dr. Michael Kurth:<\/b> I believe that law was the result of several high-profile cases such as Jerry Sandusky, the assistant football coach at Penn State, and the US Olympic Gymnastics Team, where sex abuse was known but went unreported for years because people did not want to report their friend, colleague or boss. These were not isolated cases. It turned out child sex abuse was going unreported or covered-up in many schools, youth organizations and religious organizations to avoid scandals. But requiring \u201ctrusted adults\u201d to report it to the police seems to me to be counterproductive.<\/p>\n
Gene Pittman:<\/b> If you look around this table, I picked the folks to be here. We have a collaborative relationship: we know each other by face, and we have each other\u2019s phone numbers. Reporting an inappropriate relationship is not just a matter of calling the police and having them show up at somebody\u2019s door with an arrest warrant in their hands. We are an alliance. We work together as a team. I\u2019ve seen in other parts of the state where there\u2019s almost a war between victim services groups and law enforcement. In Southwest Louisiana, we realize the process needs to be victim-centered, and victim services and advocates understand the frustrations and struggles law enforcement faces in trying to put traffickers away.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nProsecuting sex crimes is very complex. We generally assign our best detectives, interviewers and interrogators to sex crime cases where prosecution relies very heavily on the victim\u2019s testimony. The victim must tell investigators what happened so they can bring the suspects in and confront them with the evidence. Sometimes there is physical or digital evidence such as phones and text messages to corroborate things, but it still comes down to \u201che said\/she said.\u201d What happens to the victim awaiting the trial? There is a lot of pressure on them. Is it revictimization to put them on the stand?\u00a0 <\/span>And in the end, you still must convince the 12 people in the jury box, and that goes to educating the public because the jurors are from the public.<\/p>\nStephen Dwight:<\/b> Often the victim feels personal responsibility for what happens to them. Perhaps they are going to lose their house or their income. We must do our best to show them that we are on their side, and we are here to help them. From the very first time we meet with them we try to establish trust and foster a relationship with victims to ensure that if a case does go to trial, the victim knows we have their best interest in mind and want them to feel comfortable and at peace through the criminal justice process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nGene Pittman:<\/b> I told our detectives the other day not to have a pre-determined outcome in mind because often we discover human trafficking while investigating other crimes such as domestic disturbances or child abuse. I said just get everything they think might have value as evidence or testimony or witness statement or victim statements. Then we can meet with the district attorney\u2019s office and determine what crimes we can charge a person with because the victim may try to hide the situation.<\/p>\n
Stephen Dwight:<\/b> A conviction in the trial is not the final goal. We must encourage the victim to take the next step and break out of the situation they are in. That is why the Alliance is so important. It\u2019s not just getting a guilty verdict for their tormentor. It\u2019s about getting them to change their lifestyle and helping them build a better life for themselves.<\/p>\n
Dr. Michael Kurth:<\/b>\u00a0 <\/span>We have been talking about sex trafficking, but labor trafficking \u2014 forcing someone to work against their will \u2014 is also a problem. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) there were an estimated 27 million victims of modern slavery around the globe. Labor trafficking is less common in the United States, with an estimated 10,000 victims, although the actual number could be significantly higher, especially among undocumented immigrants. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nA study by the National Institute of Justice found that 71 percent of those experiencing forced labor in the United States were U.S. citizens or had entered the country on lawful H-2A and H-2B visas. The majority work in restaurants, food service and hospitality, with 19 percent working in domestic services and 8 percent in agriculture. Federal government action against labor trafficking has primarily focused on banning products made by forced labor overseas and enforcing labor laws such as affirmative action.<\/p>\n
That brings us to the second part of this forum, which will appear in the next issue of Lagniappe. It will cover the emotional damage suffered by the victims of human trafficking and how can they overcome the stigma of their past to become productive members of society.<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and service agencies recently joined together to form The Alliance to Fight Human Trafficking in Southwest Louisiana. Lagniappe columnist Dr. Michael Kurth sat down with representatives of these organizations to learn more about human trafficking in our area and how they intend to approach the problem. This forum will [&hellip<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11629,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[917],"yoast_head":"\n
Human Trafficking In The Lake Area - BestOfSwla<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n