Illinois

Named for the Illinois Indians, Illinois became the 21st state in 1818. Its capital is Springfield, which is the home of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

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

In Illinois, 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.

Illinois has taken steps to address the issue of human trafficking, including passing legislation to strengthen penalties for traffickers and to provide support and services to victims. The state also has a task force dedicated to addressing human trafficking, which works to raise awareness and coordinate efforts to prevent and combat the issue.

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.

57% of US human trafficking victims were minors in 2021: report – Fox News
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57% of US human trafficking victims were minors in 2021: report – Fox News

The 2021 Federal Human Trafficking Report released Friday shows that more than half of all trafficking victims in the U.S. were minors last year. Of the nearly 450 human trafficking victims involved in new U.S. criminal cases in 2021, 57% were minors, according to the report from the Human Trafficking Institute (HTI). “The extensive data…

People incarcerated in the US produce $11 billion worth of goods a year but can’t afford a bar of soap
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People incarcerated in the US produce $11 billion worth of goods a year but can’t afford a bar of soap

Passed by the U.S. Congress on January 31, 1865, the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution abolished slavery. But, due to an exception clause, the amendment allowed slavery to remain legal as punishment for a crime, thus allowing states to extract free labor from prisoners. Today, in the U.S., more than 65% of those incarcerated…

Youth who ran away from The Refuge and later died allegedly had staff assistance | TPR
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Youth who ran away from The Refuge and later died allegedly had staff assistance | TPR

Texas Public Radio | By Paul Flahive Published June 3, 2022 at 6:13 PM CDT A new report alleges a treatment facility for victims of sex trafficking may hold some culpability in the death of a girl who stayed there. A young girl identified only as “RR” placed at Bastrop-based “The Refuge” ran away from a…

Durbin Visits Rockford Family Peace Center, Discusses Center's Key Domestic Violence Work
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Durbin Visits Rockford Family Peace Center, Discusses Center's Key Domestic Violence Work

The Center provides services for victims of sexual and domestic violence, and the first of its kind in Illinois, it has now served almost 1,000 survivors since its inception ROCKFORD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and one of the lead cosponsors of the Violence Against Women Act…

Advocacy Network for Children to co-host human trafficking training on Thursday – Muddy River News – Muddy River News
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Advocacy Network for Children to co-host human trafficking training on Thursday – Muddy River News – Muddy River News

QUINCY — Advocacy Network for Children, together with the Central Illinois Human Trafficking Taskforce and Truckers Against Trafficking, is sponsoring a human trafficking awareness training from 9-11:30 a.m. Thursday, June 2, at Madison Park Christian Church, 4700 Broadway. The training is free and breakfast will be provided. Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. The course will…

Opinion | Human trafficking threatens our society – Daily Illini
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Opinion | Human trafficking threatens our society – Daily Illini

In the United States, slavery may be remembered as an abolished practice of the past, but it is still happening here today. It has been carried on through a new, illegal outlet: human trafficking. The Department of Homeland Security defines human trafficking as “the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor…

Labor-Trafficking Lawsuit Against Iowa College
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Labor-Trafficking Lawsuit Against Iowa College

Click a link below to jump to a particular article or scroll down to read the whole blog post. Labor-Trafficking Lawsuit Against Iowa College Safe Harbor/Expungement HF 2464 Stalls in Iowa Senate 200 Attend Iowa Human Trafficking Summit Minnesota Makes Sex Trafficking a Violent Crime Recreation Vehicle (RV) Owners to Organize Against Trafficking Recent News…

State Agencies and Organizations That Combat Child Sex Trafficking and Exploitation
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State Agencies and Organizations That Combat Child Sex Trafficking and Exploitation

Seeking information on human trafficking training? PBJ Learning recommends Human Trafficking Essentials, where you can earn your Certificate of Mastery in less than an hour. The below information is reprinted from the Child Welfare Information Gateway. Child Welfare Information Gateway is a service of the Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and…

Federal Judge Sentences Chicago Sex Trafficker to 30 Years in Prison
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Federal Judge Sentences Chicago Sex Trafficker to 30 Years in Prison

CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a Chicago man to 30 years in federal prison for forcing women and children to engage in commercial sex acts in the city and suburbs. From 2012 to 2014, CHARLES FEARS and a co-defendant, SAMUEL NICHOLS, operated a sex trafficking business through which they used force, fraud, and…