Cincinnati —
A human trafficking hotline that is exclusive to Ohio will be established by Attorney General Dave Yost. The hotline will relay all calls to the relevant social service or law enforcement organizations.
This follows his efforts to persuade the national hotline agency to alter its policy, along with those of other state attorney generals, one of which is Kentucky’s. One part of this was composing a March 2023 letter to the Congress.
“Human trafficking happens in the shadows, and without the eyes and ears of Ohioans to share information about what they see and hear, we’re fighting this battle with one hand tied behind our back,” Yost said.
More than fifteen years have passed since the National Human Trafficking Hotline’s 2007 debut. Polaris, a nonprofit organization, will only notify the authorities when the victim gives them permission, when a kid is involved, or when someone’s life is in immediate danger.
Following the letter to Congress, there were no modifications. Polaris informed Local 12 that it is prepared to assist Ohio in launching its new hotline, but that it maintains its present stance.
“Our protocols require that we put the safety of callers first and foremost when supporting callers in their times of need,” according to the announcement.
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Additionally, the agency stated that having a single national number is more practical because it is available to all individuals.
In 2023, the hotline handled over 30,000 calls and texts, with over 7,400 of those coming from survivors or victims. Thirty percent of those tips are already going to the police, according to Polaris. Among the totals for 2023, 810 were from Ohio, with 222 being victims or survivors.
“So what do you say to those that criticize systems like this because it could violate the survivor’s privacy?”
I find that completely ridiculous. The goal, according to Yost, is to prevent human trafficking victims from becoming victims themselves. “The idea that we do not trust the police with this information because we are anti-police is simply, I’m sorry, it’s foolish.”
The hotline should be operational by September, according to Yost. Cost estimates and information on how the figure will be disseminated to people in need were not provided by his office.
There would be a recorded tip line that would go to particular local and state authorities that deal with social services and law enforcement.
