Alaska

American State Flag - Alaska ak
American State Flag – Alaska

The nickname of the 49th state, Alaska, is the “Last Frontier.” Purchased from Russia for $7 million in 1867, Alaska is the largest state in area and is the largest peninsula in the Western Hemisphere. Mt. McKinley in the Alaska Range is North America’s highest peak at 20,320 feet and one of the greatest challenges for mountain climbers. Juneau is the state’s capital, and the state flower is the pale-blue forget-me-not.

Human trafficking is a serious issue that affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds in Alaska and around the world. It is defined as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit someone for labor, sexual exploitation, or other forms of exploitation. It can take many forms, including sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and domestic servitude.

In Alaska, the issue of human trafficking has received increasing attention in recent years. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, there were 16 reported cases of human trafficking in the state in 2020. The majority of these cases involved sex trafficking, followed by labor trafficking.

Victims of human trafficking in Alaska may come from a variety of backgrounds and may be exploited in a variety of settings, including hotels, restaurants, factories, farms, and private homes. Some of the most common indicators of human trafficking in Alaska include:

  • Victims who are unable to move or leave their place of work due to fear or coercion
  • Victims who are controlled by their traffickers through force, threats, or intimidation
  • Victims who are not allowed to speak for themselves or who are not allowed to make decisions about their own lives
  • Victims who are not paid for their work or who are paid very little
  • Victims who are not allowed to leave their place of work or who are constantly accompanied by their traffickers

If you suspect that someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking in Alaska, it is important to get help as soon as possible. You can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or the Alaska Office of Children’s Services’ Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-844-804-7555. You can also contact local law enforcement or a trusted organization that provides services to trafficking victims.

For Virginia survivors, the scars of human trafficking may include a criminal record they can’t erase
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For Virginia survivors, the scars of human trafficking may include a criminal record they can’t erase

After that, rape became a regular part of her life. But landlords and employers don’t see the years Holmes spent as a human trafficking victim. They just see the litany of charges — including identity theft and drug possession — that came about as a …

Bipartisan Legislative Task Force Takes On Artificial Intelligence
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Bipartisan Legislative Task Force Takes On Artificial Intelligence

Wisconsin State Capitol. Photo by Mariiana Tzotcheva. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) announced on Thursday the creation of four bipartisan task forces including one dedicated to artificial intelligence. The announcement follows Gov. Tony Evers’ Wednesday announcement that he was creating a task force on artificial intelligence (AI) and the state’s workforce. The task forces, which…

Assembly Speaker Vos announces bipartisan task forces, including one focused on AI – Wisconsin Examiner
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Assembly Speaker Vos announces bipartisan task forces, including one focused on AI – Wisconsin Examiner

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) announced on Thursday the creation of four bipartisan task forces including one dedicated to artificial intelligence. The announcement follows Gov. Tony Evers’ Wednesday announcement that he was creating a task force on artificial intelligence (AI) and the state’s workforce. The task forces, which will be led by a Republican chair…

Human Trafficking Statistics By Age, Venue, Type and Region – Enterprise Apps Today
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Human Trafficking Statistics By Age, Venue, Type and Region – Enterprise Apps Today

Introduction Human Trafficking Statistics: Today, we reside in a modern world but yet there is not a single day when illegal activities do not happen. Unfortunately, illegal activities are focused more on girls and women. Sexual violence in such cases badly affects their physical, emotional as well as mental health. And surprisingly, even developed countries…

New bill directs universities to implement human trafficking awareness training – Royal Examiner
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New bill directs universities to implement human trafficking awareness training – Royal Examiner

This story is being published through a partnership between the Mercury and the Medill News Service. Tricia Obester, an elementary school teacher and mother of a high school freshman, knew fentanyl overdoses were a national crisis. She was also aware that nationally some students were taking drugs. What she didn’t realize was how young some…

COYOTE RI: Support immunity for sex workers reporting crimes – Uprise RI
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COYOTE RI: Support immunity for sex workers reporting crimes – Uprise RI

Have you ever thought sex workers and sex trafficking survivors should be able to go to police and report crimes like sex trafficking, kidnapping, or assault without being arrested for prostitution? House Bill 6064, introduced on March 3rd, attempts to make that a reality, and it needs your support. The Nuts and Bolts This is…

TN AG Skrmetti Joins Bipartisan Effort Calling on Congress to Improve Federal-State Coordination
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TN AG Skrmetti Joins Bipartisan Effort Calling on Congress to Improve Federal-State Coordination

Nashville – Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, in partnership with 35 other state attorneys general, sent a letter to Congressional leaders informing them of an issue of grave concern with the National Human Trafficking Hotline. The letter requests assistance from Congress to preserve the critical joint federal-state effort to end trafficking. Since 2007, Polaris has…

Freshman Orientation: Assemblyman Toby Yurek made police work his ministry
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Freshman Orientation: Assemblyman Toby Yurek made police work his ministry

As in legislative sessions past, The Nevada Independent is publishing a series of profiles featuring the new lawmakers in the state. This is the ninth installment of more than a dozen. Check back in coming days for additional stories on new legislators’ backgrounds, interests and policy positions. ASSEMBLYMAN TOBY YUREK The freshman Republican born in…

Senate Passes 'National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month' Resolution
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Senate Passes 'National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month' Resolution

Washington—The Senate today passed unanimously a bipartisan resolution introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) designating January as “National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month.” “We can’t ignore the fact that, even in our modern society, sexual exploitation and forced labor continue,” said Senator Feinstein….

Freedom from Criminal Records: Major Improvements and a Long Way to Go
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Freedom from Criminal Records: Major Improvements and a Long Way to Go

Far too many survivors of human trafficking escape their exploitation only to discover that they are not truly free of what happened to them. The criminal records many have picked up as a result of being trafficked are now hanging over their heads, making it harder for them to get housing, jobs, scholarships, or even…