Arkansas

Arkansas, which joined the Union in 1836, was the 25th state. The early French explorers of the state gave it its name, which is probably a phonetic spelling for the French word for “downriver” people, a reference to the Quapaw Indians and the river along which they settled. Arkansas is the only state in which diamonds have been mined, although today the mine operates only as a tourist attraction. The state flower is the apple blossom. The current state nickname is the Natural State but in the past it was also known as the Land of Opportunity and the Wonder State.

Human trafficking is a serious issue that affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds in Arkansas 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 Arkansas, the issue of human trafficking has received increasing attention in recent years. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, there were 56 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas, 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 Arkansas State Police’s Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010. You can also contact local law enforcement or a trusted organization that provides services to trafficking victims.