If I were granted superpowers to put an end to one injustice in the world, without a doubt, I would choose to stop human trafficking. This despicable crime violates the safety and freedom of countless individuals, and the state of Illinois is taking significant steps to combat it.
This week, the Illinois State Police announced in a press release that they have partnered with law enforcement agencies from Texas to provide training to officers in order to combat human trafficking.
According to Brendan F. Kelly, the Director of ISP, survivors of human trafficking are often children who are vulnerable to exploitation and other forms of victimization. He believes that the Interdiction for the Protection of Children specialized training provides law enforcement officers with the necessary tools to identify at-risk and exploited children and bring those who commit these heinous crimes to justice.
According to a press release, the training attended by Illinois officers had a specific focus on understanding the perspectives of victims and effectively identifying and isolating perpetrators of these crimes. The training was comprehensive and involved the participation of nine local law enforcement officers, 62 DCFS employees, 31 child advocates, and 86 ISP officers.
The Illinois State Police have revealed that human trafficking is the most underreported crime in the state. To address this issue, a new initiative has been launched to ensure that such cases are reported and prevented in the future.
Collectively expressing outrage for human trafficking crimes, just like for other offenses, could help reduce or even eradicate the abhorrent practice of selling individuals and their freedom. The partnership between the Illinois State Police and Texas is a step towards achieving this goal.