COLUMBIA, S.C. (CN2 News) – York is among the Top 10 South Carolina Counties where human trafficking cases were reported in 2021. York County is listed as 7th in the Palmetto State according to the annual report. Overall, The South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force reported a 15% increase in the number of victims reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
Read below for the official report from the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office:
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Chair of the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force, released the 2021 Annual Report at the State House Monday. Task Force leadership joined him for the release, including local, state, and federal law enforcement. The annual report shares data that details the magnitude of human trafficking in South Carolina and efforts underway to combat the crime.
“We saw a nearly 15% increase in the number of victims reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline,” Attorney General Wilson said. “Additionally, we are seeing a steady increase in the number of children and youth who have been identified by DSS as victims.”
In an effort to prevent South Carolina’s young people from becoming victims of human trafficking, the Attorney General’s Office is kicking off a prevention education initiative in 2022. The initiative will offer year-round opportunities for young people to become more aware of the complexities of the crime. The prevention education program was designed for middle and high schools, youth-serving agencies, faith groups, and child welfare agencies.
“As we seek additional resources to meet the needs of minor victims in our state, we must also try to protect those who have not yet been victimized,” Kathryn Moorehead, Coordinator of the State Task Force said. “The best approach is to educate young people through age appropriate, comprehensive lesson plans.”
The 2021 Annual Report also noted a continued emphasis on labor trafficking, disability inclusion, data collection, and online resources for community members. To access the resource materials or the annual report, please visit the State Task Force website at humantrafficking.scag.gov.
To report an incident or seek victim services, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. The Hotline is confidential and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
