Page 6 - SeptemberOctober24 Report

While anyone can be victimized through labor trafficking, those popu- lations vulnerable to socioeconomic instability are at an increased risk. Labor traffickers may begin with a job offer for a job that does not exist or under false pretension. Thereafter, traffickers might utilize threats and exploitative circum- stances to keep an individual working subjected to a state of indentured servi- tude through requirements of payment of items such as rent and food, the presence of little or no pay, and abusive working conditions. A variety of circumstances encompass labor trafficking ranging from forced and involuntary child labor, panhandling or forcible requirement for the engagement in illegal acts.
One notable labor trafficking case is the United Nation of Islam (UNOI), now known as the Value Creators. Six men, led by Royall Jenkins, of the UNOI were convicted of forcing children as young as eight to work without pay while being physically harmed, denied healthcare, and forced to follow strict diets. The UNOI ran storefronts such as diners, bakeries, and gas stations, and spanned numerous states including Kansas, New York, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, and Ohio.
Ohio State Law
Ohio’s law is even more recent than the TVPA, having only been enacted in 2012. Section 2905.32 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) broadens the federal definition of human trafficking by including language such as luring, enticing, and maintaining. Understanding these expansions will help to paint a broader picture of what human trafficking looks like in Ohio.
Notably, the act of enticing explodes the concept of who is trafficked under Ohio Law. The act of enticing is where traffickers figure out their victims’ vulner- abilities and exploit them to get the person to do what the trafficker wants. A person can be offered or deprived of a resource
Adults 78%
they need (i.e. housing, food, substances) in order to get them to engage in the act the traffickers require.
The Compulsion and Intimidation Aspect of Human Trafficking
Understanding ORC Section 2905.32
is important because it emphasizes that
traffickers thrive on emotional manip-
ulation and psychological coercion as
their method of confinement rather than
visible confinement. A key component
of ORC Section 2905.32 is compulsion.
The element compelled does not require
the compulsion to be openly displayed or
physically exerted. Compulsion has been
established if the state proves the victim’s
CASE DEMOGRAPHICS
Ages
Minors 22%
Citizenship
Foreign Nationals 36%
Source: humantraffickinghotline.org/en/statistics/ohio
Gender
Males 14%
will was overcome by: • Force
• Duress • Fear
• Intimidation • Fraud
US Citizens 64%
trafficking can look like (i.e. someone is kidnapped, taken to an international loca- tion, and held there), these ideals need to be updated to create a more complete and comprehensive understanding of what trafficking looks like and who is at risk. The highlight on psychological means of victimizing people requires the conversa- tion to be more inclusive around a variety of vulnerabilities ranging from mental health challenges, the use of substances, and to those experiencing a lack of resources.
Statistics:
The discrepancies in how society docu- ments and reports human trafficking cases makes it imperative to look at a variety of statistics to gather a comprehensive view of human trafficking. No one site reports the same numbers or utilizes the same screening mechanisms for the same risk factors.
According to the Human Traf- ficking Courts, Ohio ranks fifth in the United States for human trafficking inci- dents as of 2022; however, has the fourth overall worst ratio of victims per capita. This means Ohio has the fourth highest number of human trafficking victims per 100,000 people. As of June 2022, Ohio’s rate of human trafficking was 3.84 victims per 100,000 residents. As of 2022 the population of Ohio was 11,756,058, meaning there were an estimated 450 traf- ficking victims in the state.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a platform for victims of sex and
This understanding challenges ways in which the public views and under- stands human trafficking. Someone being trafficked may not demonstrate visible visual traits. While contemporary media might showcase a certain
portrayal of what human
Females 86%
Annette Mango is a survivor of human trafficking whose story originated in Cleveland. Annette spent over a decade being trafficked by individuals who exploited her needs through coercion. She is now a motivational speaker and the survivor ambassador for the Attorney General’s Advisory Council.
6
THE REPORT | September/October 2024 | CincyBar.org