Keep Making Those Calls

While we can’t always post the success stories that are taking place out there due to ongoing investigations and the like, rest assured that truckers are making calls to the authorities, are helping trafficking victims (any prostitute under 18 is one), and are being real heroes as they become Truckers Against Trafficking! Thank you!

We’d like to share a couple tips that will help when you make those calls. Once you make the call and law enforcement is involved, the entire case is then under their authority. Any member of the trucking industry dealing directly with law enforcement in a human trafficking case called in needs to keep the following in mind:
1. Every case is different, and law enforcement in every locale may handle a case totally differently.
2. Law enforcement will be putting together a case, and while they’re putting together a case, unless THEY release information to the media, they will not want information on the case or any ongoing investigation leaked to anyone, as this could impede the investigation and/or damage the case before it comes up for trial. The immediate case could be part of a larger and more comprehensive investigation, and, as such, none of the information should be shared.
3. You need to specifically ask law enforcement if you can share any of the information, and if so, what can you share and to whom … and if not, absolutely comply with what law enforcement specifies. If law enforcement releases information to the media, that is the only information they want released – nothing else.
4. If law enforcement is gruff or rebuffing, don’t be offended. You’ve done your part, now comply with their requests so they can do theirs.

Second, please remember to “press through” (keep on making calls) when things don’t go right. Some of those things that may not go right are:
• law enforcement does nothing when they come
• the girls are back at the truck stops even after they’ve been rescued

Law enforcement training still needs to take place in numerous towns and cities across the country. And while there are a few good rehabilitation homes and shelters for trafficking victims in the country, there is a need for a great many more quality homes. Without really good support and rehab once victims are rescued, they are easy targets for additional victimization.

Fifty years ago, few people understood domestic violence. The understanding of human trafficking in this country today is similar to domestic violence then. Fifty years ago the police did not come into a home with domestic violence on their mind, and there were no safe houses for vulnerable women. It’s the same right now for human trafficking in most parts of the country, so the need is enormous to continue to educate, to continue make those phone calls so Congress and others in authority will understand the need and allocate the funds and mandates necessary for the training and rehab facilities and support that trafficking victims need, just as they finally did for victims of domestic violence.

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