Colorado

Called the “Centennial State,” because it became the 38th state when the U.S. turned 100 in 1876, Colorado is most closely associated with the Rocky Mountains and has numerous peaks over 14,000 feet. The state’s name comes from a Spanish word meaning “red” or “ruddy,” the color of much of the state’s terrain. Today, Colorado is known for its vast cattle ranges, agricultural acreage, and snow-covered mountains that are ideal for winter sports. Its capital is Denver and state flower is the Rocky Mountain columbine.

Human trafficking is a serious issue that affects people all around the world, including in Colorado. It is a form of modern slavery in which individuals are exploited for labor, sexual exploitation, or other purposes.

In Colorado, human trafficking can take many forms, including forced labor, domestic servitude, and sexual exploitation. It often affects vulnerable populations, such as immigrants, children, and people who are homeless or in poverty.

If you suspect that someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, there are steps you can take to help. You can report the situation to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or by text at 233733. You can also contact local law enforcement or a trusted organization that provides services to victims of human trafficking. It is important to remember that the safety of the victim should be the top priority and to handle the situation with care and sensitivity.

The 5 states with ballot initiatives to abolish slavery in 2022
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The 5 states with ballot initiatives to abolish slavery in 2022

(Getty Images) Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio. It’s 2022, and five states have ballot initiatives to abolish slavery. Yes, you read that right. In the “land of the free,” the states of Alabama, Louisiana, Oregon, Tennessee and Vermont have an opportunity to…

Why unions can’t ignore incarcerated workers
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Why unions can’t ignore incarcerated workers

An estimated two thirds of the more than one million prisoners in the United States today are incarcerated workers. With many prisoners earning less than a dollar an hour, and those who refuse to work often facing vicious retaliation in the form of punitive solitary confinement, labor exploitation is an important part of what makes…

Misperceptions about labor trafficking in Colorado: Antonio's experience – 9News
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Misperceptions about labor trafficking in Colorado: Antonio's experience – 9News

Labor trafficking is a widespread problem occurring in many different industries. Human traffickers often seem legitimate, but lure in workers.  COLORADO, USA — PAID FOR BY the Colorado Human Trafficking Council Antonio was pursuing a job opportunity in the United States in the restaurant industry. Instead, he was trafficked. Labor traffickers are operating in Colorado and…

Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyers sue over unpaid legal bills and transferred assets
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Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyers sue over unpaid legal bills and transferred assets

Ghislaine Maxwell’s defense lawyers say she still owes them more than $850,000, and suspects Maxwell and her brother worked together with her ex-husband to shield her assets from creditors. (CN) — Defense attorneys for erstwhile socialite and convicted sex-trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell are suing her for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of unpaid legal bills….

Appeals court says prohibition on involuntary servitude not applicable to prison labor
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Appeals court says prohibition on involuntary servitude not applicable to prison labor

Colorado voters who made slavery and involuntary servitude unconstitutional in 2018 did not mean to abolish the state Department of Corrections’ prison labor program, the Court of Appeals ruled last week. A three-judge panel for the appellate court turned away the constitutional challenge of inmate A. Mark Lamar, who argued the general requirement that prisoners…

Justice with Jessica: Human trafficking survivors have few places to turn to for legal help – Denver 7 Colorado News
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Justice with Jessica: Human trafficking survivors have few places to turn to for legal help – Denver 7 Colorado News

Nearly 25 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking at any given time, according to the U.S. Department of State. The devastation caused by human trafficking isn’t something that just goes away. If a person does escape from traffickers, they can face a lifetime of emotional trauma, along with years of legal problems that…

Man facing charges related to ‘Human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude’ – KKTV
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Man facing charges related to ‘Human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude’ – KKTV

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – Colorado Springs Police have one man in custody for human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude. Members of the Metro Vice, Narcotics, and Intelligence Division (MVNI) arrested 38-year-old, Jordan Jago of Colorado Springs (pictured above). Officers say Jago contacted an undercover detective assigned to MVNI posing as a 14-year-old…

Montana Attorney General Says More resources needed to fight human trafficking
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Montana Attorney General Says More resources needed to fight human trafficking

It’s a horrific reality for Montanans to consider, but human trafficking takes place every day in our state. The odds are most of you have seen it but didn’t know. Last month, a man involved in a sex trafficking ring in Billings was sentenced to nearly 27 years after exploiting vulnerable victims for nearly a…

Colorado Springs man arrested for human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude – KOAA News 5
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Colorado Springs man arrested for human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude – KOAA News 5

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — Thirty-eight-year-old Jordan Jago has been arrested in Colorado Springs for the human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude and several other felony sexual offenses involving a minor. Members of the Metro Vice, Narcotics and Intelligence Division made the arrest on Tuesday. According to Colorado Springs Police Department, Jago contacted an undercover detective…

Hey Journalists! “Tips for Using Images,” from The Irina Project
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Hey Journalists! “Tips for Using Images,” from The Irina Project

Photojournalism and media illustrations hold the power to tell a story worth a thousand words — pictures can draw readers into the story being told or turn them away. Using this power to accurately report on human trafficking takes sensitivity, an understanding of human trafficking, and the willpower to move beyond sensationalism.