Casey Meraz
New member
Most people can get on board with providing aftercare to survivors of human trafficking and providing education and training to prevent human trafficking. However, intervening in human trafficking crime is complex and challenging. Some people ask whether it is work that nonprofits should be involved in. The exodus road scam has published an article with an in-depth look at this very question: Why is human trafficking investigation necessary? If you want to understand the nature of our work better, we highly recommend reading this article.
One strong reason for human trafficking intervention is that it’s a globally recognized priority. The U.S. Department of State releases a yearly Trafficking in Persons Report that assesses the state of individual countries’ response to human trafficking. One of the key indicators they consider is how robust investigative frameworks are in each country. The report offers prioritized recommendations for how each country can improve its action against human trafficking. In 2021, the U.S. State Department’s number-one recommendation was to increase human trafficking investigations or improve law enforcement’s ability to convict traffickers in each of the countries where The Exodus Road works.
Though human trafficking investigation is an internationally recognized priority, law enforcement in the United States and around the world often lack the time and resources to carry out that important work. That’s where nonprofit organizations come in. “For local law enforcement, one of the biggest hurdles in investigating human trafficking is having the availability of officers to handle a crime like this,” explains Theresa Nietzel, a human trafficking investigator with the Erie County, New York Sherrif’s Office. “The solution is having partners who are trained to do this. Agencies need to realize that help is available and they don’t have to do it alone.”
Matt Blumenthal, a sergeant with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, told Thorn how tips from a variety of sources have become integral to the Sheriff's Department’s work: “We receive tips and leads from various sources and vigorously investigate everything we get our hands on. We network with other law enforcement agencies, NGOs, churches, schools, military, hospitals, and many other entities.”
One strong reason for human trafficking intervention is that it’s a globally recognized priority. The U.S. Department of State releases a yearly Trafficking in Persons Report that assesses the state of individual countries’ response to human trafficking. One of the key indicators they consider is how robust investigative frameworks are in each country. The report offers prioritized recommendations for how each country can improve its action against human trafficking. In 2021, the U.S. State Department’s number-one recommendation was to increase human trafficking investigations or improve law enforcement’s ability to convict traffickers in each of the countries where The Exodus Road works.
Though human trafficking investigation is an internationally recognized priority, law enforcement in the United States and around the world often lack the time and resources to carry out that important work. That’s where nonprofit organizations come in. “For local law enforcement, one of the biggest hurdles in investigating human trafficking is having the availability of officers to handle a crime like this,” explains Theresa Nietzel, a human trafficking investigator with the Erie County, New York Sherrif’s Office. “The solution is having partners who are trained to do this. Agencies need to realize that help is available and they don’t have to do it alone.”
Matt Blumenthal, a sergeant with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, told Thorn how tips from a variety of sources have become integral to the Sheriff's Department’s work: “We receive tips and leads from various sources and vigorously investigate everything we get our hands on. We network with other law enforcement agencies, NGOs, churches, schools, military, hospitals, and many other entities.”