Cities can defend against human trafficking — they just need to know what to look for 

Crystal was newly 21. Her life was about to change forever.

Her situation was unremarkable — what you might expect in America’s heartland. Awkward, insecure and lonely, she met a man online who said she was beautiful and smart. He was attentive, messaging her frequently and filling her need for companionship. Crystal was smitten. Her trust in this man was growing.

Without realizing it, she was being manipulated and groomed. 

This man encouraged Crystal to travel to Chicago, about 3 hours away, to meet him for a night out. As soon as Crystal arrived, this man attacked her physically, sexually and emotionally. He targeted her vulnerabilities and threatened her family’s safety. Over five weeks, he forced Crystal to perform sex acts for money with many men, all while continuing the fraudulent relationship.  

Eventually, law enforcement discovered Crystal. She willingly came to the Center for Prevention of Abuse for safe emergency housing and trauma-informed care. While she was there, a caseworker asked Crystal if she knew the name of her abuser. She replied, “Yes, but I don’t know how to spell it, so you’ll have to look.” Crystal lifted her long bangs to reveal a homemade tattoo of his full name across her forehead. She had been branded as his property. 

Crystal’s true story offers insight into the brutal realities of human trafficking in the U.S. — an underworld that has destroyed tens of thousands of lives.

Mackenzie Kelly recently wrote in The Hill about policies that should be developed to combat human trafficking. I could not agree more. But there are other crucial actions happening right now in Illinois. If adopted elsewhere, these strategies could make a powerful impact to end human trafficking across our nation. 

At the Center for Prevention of Abuse, we care for victims of human trafficking and we harness the power of education — trying to stop abuse, hopefully before it starts. We offer specialized training for first responders, hospitality workers, victim service providers, faith communities, Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, students and their educators, skilled trades workers, and more. 

There are people across this country — women, men and children — shackled by invisible chains, forced into compelled labor or commercial sex, swayed into exploitation, and stripped of their humanity. Human trafficking is a hidden crime that thrives in plain sight — a grim reminder that exploitation is pervasive and devastating. Human trafficking is the second largest crime in the world, second only to drug trafficking. 

Who might have suspected danger in Crystal’s situation? Who could have recognized the signs when she lingered at the iron-barred window in the home where she was kept; when she was snatched out of view, when a stream of men frequented the home? It could have been professionals who work in neighborhoods, parks, streets and other places where people notice patterns. 

We are training and certifying communities and their front-line professionals to help people like Crystal, including employees in public works, waste management, park districts, fire, police and other departments.  

The first community to invite us to train nearly 700 city employees was Bloomington, Ill, which has since trained at least 75 percent of its city staff, agreeing to retrain every three years. Bloomington has also created a reporting protocol for staff to report what they witness, established an internal anti-human trafficking policy, and thoughtfully discussed an ordinance affecting illicit massage businesses, which are among the most popular fronts for human trafficking venues. 

Decatur, Ill., with almost 500 city staff, will be the next entity we train and certify, with other towns to follow. As each city meets the certification requirements, we declare them a “Partner in Peace” and recognize them as trained in human trafficking prevention.  

City employees are often in places others are not — on streets, in homes and in neighborhood gathering places. They are the “boots on the ground” and more likely to notice when something is not quite right. City employees are in a unique position to protect their communities by sharing what they see. When they know how to take action, they can help people like Crystal. 

This specialized human trafficking training effort is supported by grassroots donations from individuals and companies who endorse this work. State and federal entities do not require us to provide this type of training, but its importance is undeniable. 

Without question, good government policies are crucial. In addition to education, we must remove obstacles and create systems that help combat vulnerabilities. 

Confronting the public crisis caused by human trafficking demands a united front from every layer of society — lawmakers, communities, law enforcement, businesses, citizens, and high-impact human service nonprofits like ours. 

Carol Merna is CEO of the Center for Prevention of Abuse.