Montana

Montana is known as “Big Sky Country”. The members of the Lewis and Clark expedition were the first white explorers known to have set foot in Montana. It joined the United States in 1889 as the 41st state. The name Montana comes from the Spanish word Montana, meaning “mountainous,” although the eastern part of the state consists of gently rolling pastureland. The Anaconda Company had a stranglehold on the state’s copper industry for about 100 years, but today Montana is known as a tourist destination for those drawn to its many trout streams and wide open spaces. Its capital is Helena and the state flower is the bitterroot.

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

According to data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, Montana has consistently had relatively low numbers of human trafficking cases reported compared to other states in the United States. In 2020, the state ranked 50th in the country for the number of cases reported to the hotline, with a total of 6 cases.

Human trafficking can take many forms in Montana, 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.

 

 

Florida keeps using unpaid prison labor to prepare for hurricanes
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Florida keeps using unpaid prison labor to prepare for hurricanes

  As Floridians prepared for Hurricane Idalia to make landfall on the upper central coast earlier this week, several counties deployed unpaid prison labor, as they have in the past, to fill the sandbags used to prevent flood damage. At least four counties — including Lake County, Polk County, Taylor County and Flagler County — relied on…

GHRC Prison Labor Report Cited as Montana Inmates Deployed to Fight Wildfire
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GHRC Prison Labor Report Cited as Montana Inmates Deployed to Fight Wildfire

Montana state officials praise fire crew with prison inmates; national report, ACLU question pay Keila SzpallerAugust 27, 2023 Daily Montanan (read original here) The Montana Department of Corrections deployed 15 inmates and three correctional officers to help fight a wildfire in the state earlier this month, the DOC said in a news release. The inmates…

Not even wild dogs could keep these cyclists from their cross-country goal: Raising awareness for human trafficking
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Not even wild dogs could keep these cyclists from their cross-country goal: Raising awareness for human trafficking

YORKTOWN — The six bicyclists who pulled into Yorktown on Tuesday after a 3,775-mile cross-country journey specifically wanted to do something uncomfortable. They were riding for an uncomfortable cause, after all: the worldwide fight against human trafficking. And during 53 days on the road, they endured painful crashes, flat tires, aching body parts, dehydration, blistering…

AG Knudsen launches new PSA to fight human trafficking
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AG Knudsen launches new PSA to fight human trafficking

https://vimeo.com/845100031 Attorney General Austin Knudsen today launched a new statewide public service announcement to educate Montanans on the issue of human trafficking and how to report it when they suspect they see it. Featuring Montana Department of Justice officials who are active in the fight against human trafficking, the 30-second spot provides information to Montanans on what to…

New Beginnings program offers some survivors a fresh start
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New Beginnings program offers some survivors a fresh start

HELENA — Through the doors of Associated Dermatology and Skin Care Clinic of Helena, some survivors find a new start. The clinic’s New Beginnings program offers free removal of radiation tattoos used for cancer treatment and human trafficking brand tattoos. The program is offered by American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery physicians across the…

Montana Department of Justice grateful for additional resources from Legislature
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Montana Department of Justice grateful for additional resources from Legislature

HELENA — Leaders with the Montana Department of Justice came into the 2023 state legislative session saying they were dealing with a significant rise in cases. Lawmakers responded by giving them more resources to address issues like illegal drugs, human trafficking, sexual assault and the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered indigenous people. “I think…

Montana AG Says 'Human Trafficking is Happening in Missoula' – Newstalk KGVO
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Montana AG Says 'Human Trafficking is Happening in Missoula' – Newstalk KGVO

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) – Montana’s Attorney General Austin Knudsen appeared on the KGVO Talk Back show on Thursday to answer questions from listeners, and stated plainly that human trafficking is happening in Montana. “We know human trafficking is going on in Montana,” began Knudsen. “And if you haven’t heard me harp about human trafficking,…

No One Has Ever Been Convicted of Human Trafficking in Montana – Newstalk KGVO
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No One Has Ever Been Convicted of Human Trafficking in Montana – Newstalk KGVO

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) – It’s a shocking headline, but true. At a press conference in Helena on Monday, Governor Greg Gianforte stated that ‘no criminal has ever been convicted under Montana’s present human trafficking laws’. HB 112 puts Real Teeth in Montana’s Human Trafficking Laws Gianforte called together the state’s Attorney General along with…

FBI and Billings area law enforcement battle human trafficking – KTVQ
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FBI and Billings area law enforcement battle human trafficking – KTVQ

BILLINGS – Federal officials warned the public Monday of a continuing crisis, human trafficking, in Montana. They met to raise awareness about the prevalence of the issue and to have more people tackling the problem. Human trafficking happens every day in Billings, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI. So they made a…

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…