Ohio

The land we call Ohio today was part the Northwest Territory that the United States won by defeating the British in the Revolutionary War. Ohio was admitted into the Union as the 17th state in 1803. The state gets its name from the river that forms its southern border. Ohio is an Iroquois word meaning “great water.” The capital of the “Buckeye State” is Columbus, and, not surprisingly, the state tree is the buckeye. Highly populated, Ohio is situated between the Eastern Seaboard and the Midwest, and is known for the fact that eight presidents were either born or lived there. The flower is the scarlet carnation.

Human trafficking is a serious issue that affects people all around the world, including in Ohio. 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, Ohio has consistently ranked among the top states in the United States for the number of human trafficking cases reported. In 2020, the state ranked seventh in the country for the number of cases reported to the hotline, with a total of 108 cases.

Human trafficking can take many forms in Ohio, 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.

 

 

Jury convicts final defendant in Scioto County human trafficking operation involving drugs exchanged for sexual access to children
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Jury convicts final defendant in Scioto County human trafficking operation involving drugs exchanged for sexual access to children

COLUMBUS, Ohio – All 11 defendants charged federally in a Scioto County child sex trafficking operation have been convicted. A federal grand jury originally indicted Larry Dean Porter, 71, of Wheelersburg, Ohio, and several of his family members and associates in June 2020. Porter exchanged drugs obtained in Columbus and elsewhere for sexual access to…

AG: 35 arrested across Ohio following human trafficking sting
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AG: 35 arrested across Ohio following human trafficking sting

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Dozens of people across Ohio were arrested over the weekend for trying to buy sex, according to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. Yost said the statewide human-trafficking operation resulted in the arrest of 35 “Johns” seeking to buy sex and 21 others seeking to buy sex from minors. The 21 arrested face…

Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) – 2983
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Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) – 2983

  Tonight’s special guest is Harold D’Souza from Cincinnati, Ohio, co-founder of Eyes Open International, a non-profit group focused on combating human trafficking through empowerment. He explains, “We consult various levels of government and develop methods of cultivating resilience, hope, and freedom in vulnerable populations as well as organize and participate in talks, seminars, group discussions, and special events…

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost partners with Columbus Crew on human trafficking PSA – WOSU Public Media
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Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost partners with Columbus Crew on human trafficking PSA – WOSU Public Media

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkeRtD__zx4 Attorney Dave Yost is partnering with the Columbus Crew to raise awareness about human trafficking at home games. Starting Saturday, a public service announcement will play during pre-game activities at Lower.com Field that shows fans how to recognize signs of sex and labor trafficking and how to report a potential problem. Yost published the…

A Philadelphia DHS office houses stranded kids, but staff warn it's unsafe
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A Philadelphia DHS office houses stranded kids, but staff warn it's unsafe

By the time a foster home was found for the 8-year-old boy, he refused to go. He’d been sleeping in a conference room at the Philadelphia Department of Human Services for two months, either on a folding cot or an air mattress on the floor. That bare-bones space is not meant for overnight stays. Yet,…

Man sentenced to 8 years after human trafficking sting in Blue Ash – FOX19
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Man sentenced to 8 years after human trafficking sting in Blue Ash – FOX19

CINCINNATI (WXIX) – A 35-year-old man will spend eight years in prison for conspiring to sex-traffic minors. Doyenn Clayborne, 35, was arrested in October of 2020 during a human trafficking sting conducted by the FBI and Blue Ash police, according to United States Attorney Kenneth Parker. Clayborne was one of three men at a Blue…

Central Ohio task force seeks teen, a suspected trafficking victim – The Columbus Dispatch
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Central Ohio task force seeks teen, a suspected trafficking victim – The Columbus Dispatch

The Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force is requesting help in locating a missing 17-year-old girl they believe is a human trafficking victim, and they’ve released photos of her as well as of a Columbus man wanted on a felony warrant who they want to question about her disappearance. Daniela Juneth Cruz-Rios is an unaccompanied minor in…

Some ‘Human Trafficking’ Claims Undermine Real Atrocities – Bloomberg Law
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Some ‘Human Trafficking’ Claims Undermine Real Atrocities – Bloomberg Law

“Human trafficking” brings to mind images of “coyotes,” ferrying migrants across the border, women held in sex trade bondage, and impoverished foreign workers trapped in brutal working conditions. These abuses happen in America, and they require a strong response. To combat these evils, Congress enacted the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 “to combat trafficking…

RISE, Hope and Healing: Akron programs working to support survivors of human trafficking – WKYC.com
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RISE, Hope and Healing: Akron programs working to support survivors of human trafficking – WKYC.com

Programs and resource centers in Northeast Ohio are providing help and education to survivors of human trafficking and the wider community. AKRON, Ohio — In Akron Municipal Court, Judge Ron Cable is not just handing down sentences; he’s also giving second chances. One of his specialty dockets is aiming to help those who may not…

Child abortion patient just one of many young abuse victims – Canton Repository
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Child abortion patient just one of many young abuse victims – Canton Repository

Editor’s note: this opinion piece makes some interesting comparisons between child pregnancies, child marriage, and trafficking. It is presented here as something to consider in your education about these issues. The shocking story of a 10-year-old Columbus girl who underwent an abortion in Indiana continues to reverberate and ricochet around the country. The child recently became an…