Speech and Testimony
County Executive Leggett’s Remarks at the Regional Human Trafficking Conference
County Executive Leggett’s Remarks at the Regional Human Trafficking Conference
Universities of Maryland at Shady Grove, Building II; 9630 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville
As prepared
Good morning. I want to thank everyone for attending our Regional Human Trafficking Conference.
Human trafficking has long been an issue in our region, our nation and abroad. But working together, I am confident we can develop collaborative strategies to identify more of these crimes; support more of these victims; and prosecute more of these perpetrators. Ultimately, our joint efforts can help reduce human trafficking in our region.
The Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force calls Maryland a “hot spot” for human trafficking – citing our central east coast location, the I-95 corridor and its truck stops, rest areas and bus stops, as well as BWI airport. And looking at our broader DC-MD-VA region, we see a similar situation, with Reagan National and Washington Dulles airports, plus additional truck, bus and rest stops.
Today, we have the opportunity to share what we’ve learned and identify ways to pursue and prosecute this modern day slavery in our region that includes labor trafficking and sex trafficking – both crimes that involve force, fraud and coercion.
Obviously, this is a very challenging problem because it happens out of sight or is hidden in plain view – plus, these criminals often are on the move.
And, in addition to being coerced, these victims often suffer from a host of additional vulnerabilities. For example, many victims speak a language other than English, so it’s difficult for them to ask for help or describe what’s happening, even when they get the rare opportunity.
Other victims may be compromised due to documentation issues such as a work visa tying them to their abuser; a legal visa that their abuser confiscated; or their visa may have expired while they were being held captive.
Many human trafficking victims have children or other family members they fear their abusers will hurt if they run.
Other victims of human trafficking suffer physical and psychological controls that preclude them from escaping. And many others are impaired by drug addiction.
So, this is a terrible problem with very difficult circumstances in terms of identifying and prosecuting these crimes.
Yet, we have assets in our region we can access – and I know many of you already have begun.
Though we are a high-traffic area, we also are a highly educated, multilingual and engaged community. If we can educate the public effectively, we may identify more human trafficking crimes earlier on.
And, if we can implement laws and regulations that either make it more difficult to carry out trafficking operations or easier for law enforcement to detect such crimes, we are another step ahead.
Further, if we provide services and support that enable victims to come forward, we can improve prosecution efforts.
I know that many of you here today have identified workable strategies that can be considered as we decide our best strategies for regional collaboration. Here are just a few examples:
The Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force, which was founded in 2004, has participated in a national initiative called the Enhanced Collaborative Model to Combat Human Trafficking. This Task Force has been working closely with partners to coordinate investigations and provide services to victims.
The Montgomery County Task Force has been focusing on building understanding and developing interagency prevention and response strategies.
Recently, we enacted a measure to regulate all bodyworks establishments, including those that had claimed exemption based on providing previously unregulated services. And, police use the county’s Purchase of Prostitution Law to conduct demand stings and issue criminal citations to “Johns” on the scene.
Prince George’s County recently enacted laws to: a) prohibit hourly room rentals at lodging establishments; b) require lodging establishments to train employees about trafficking; and, c) strengthen licensure of massage establishments. These efforts can make human trafficking more difficult.
In Howard County, the Task Force is focusing on: a) identifying human trafficking victims; b) building a comprehensive network of services for victims; c) increasing public awareness, training, intelligence-sharing and partnerships; and, d) creating a specialized law enforcement core group for this issue.
Washington, D.C. recently partnered with the US Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign in educating the public to identify and report suspected cases of human trafficking.
Further, a DC Department of Motor Vehicles partnership with “Truckers Against Trafficking” will educate those holding commercial drivers’ licenses about human trafficking, while also airing public service announcements about it at DMV locations.
All of this is just a sampling of all the good work that’s underway to address human trafficking in our region.
Again, I deeply appreciate all of you being here and sharing your ideas and expertise about what we can do as a region to undermine the perpetrators of these crimes and free the victims.
Throughout today, please share what you have struggled with; what strategies you have implemented; and, what effect those efforts have had. By sharing and listening, we can build on our successes to create a regional strategy.
Ultimately, I am confident that we can become even more protective of the current and potential victims in our region, while becoming a greater threat to the human traffickers who may want to operate here.
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Release ID: 16-047
September 23, 2016; 9:30 a.m.