hu·man traf·fick·ing
- Noun
the illegal practice of procuring or trading in human beings for the purpose of prostitution, forced labor, or other forms of exploitation.
-as defined by Dictionary.com
You’re reading this and thinking, “This doesn’t affect me. This sort of thing doesn’t happen here.”
That’s the point of this blog article – to let you know that this is indeed happening in every state of the United States of America, along with every other country. I’m letting you know this, not to create a sense of paranoia, but let you know how you can potentially be more aware and prevent yourself and your loved ones from being taken.
According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline website, there were 53 reported cases of human trafficking in Mississippi in 2016 alone. (More recent stats have not been released yet.) According to an anonymous officer from our local police force, this IS a real problem here. But since a lot of the cases are still active, I wasn’t able to get more specific information.
While most victims are females under the age of 18, the statistics say that there are victims of all ages, genders, religious backgrounds, economic statuses, etc.
As a fan of true crime (podcasts, documentaries, books, etc.), I have to say that I’m horrified by the number of local social media posts about groups of men following families with children in public, staring, and even, in some cases; communicating amongst each other with bluetooth ear devices.
I can’t confirm how many of these posts are true stories. With the sheer volume of these posts, I think it’s safe to say it needs to be discussed. So that’s why I’m bringing this particular discussion to the table.
I’ve done some research and compiled a list of tips to help y’all out:
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- Be Aware. (Duh, right?) Despite the obvious advice here, I think this is still important, especially with how much we are staring at our phones these days. Keep your phone handy, but be aware of your surroundings. You particularly need to pay the most attention when you are in “fringe areas”. (“Fringe areas adjacent to heavily traveled public places are where the majority of crimes occur. This includes areas such as parking lots, bathrooms, stairwells, laundry rooms, phone booths, ATM kiosks, and the like.”– Kane and Wilder- The Little Black Book of Violence)
- Familiarize. Be sure you know where exits are at a location, where groups of people are, and make a mental map so you have ideas of where to go in any situation.
- Keep Tabs. Keep an eye on people who exhibit strange behavior and make note of their physical features and what they are wearing. Not only would this keep you aware of their movements, but you’d have details that could help catch someone if they make a move on your loved ones or others.
- Use Your Phone. If you are certain that a person or persons are following you or your family, don’t be afraid to call 911 and give them a description of the person and ask that they send someone to check this out. Another useful thing is to snap a picture of the suspicious person. They won’t like it, but it may certainly spook them.
- Make A Scene. Don’t be afraid to make some noise, talk loudly, or whatever you can do to draw attention to yourself. Let employees or other people around you know what is going on. It sounds silly, but if you are drawing attention, a person will be more likely to back off.
I know I’ve hit you with a lot of facts and figures. You may even find this article boring. I’m passionate about this subject because there are children in my own family who are at the “target” age range for these types of crimes. It is a thought that haunts me. I want to protect the children…and everyone else too.
If you find yourself or your loved ones in a situation like what has been discussed above, please report your experience to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
I hope this helps our community in some way. Thanks for reading.
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