AG Zoeller’s Office trains law enforcement, tourism industry on combating human trafficking in lead up to Indy 500

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s Office is training law enforcement officers and members of the tourism industry this week to recognize and combat human trafficking ahead of the Indianapolis 500, which will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to Indianapolis later this month.

Human trafficking – buying or selling individuals for sex or labor – is the fastest growing and second largest criminal industry worldwide, generating an estimated 150.2 billion dollars. Approximately 300,000 American youths are at risk of becoming victims of commercial sexual exploitation, and the average age children are first exploited is between 12 and 14.

Zoeller said sporting events which draw large crowds can also attract sex trafficking. The Attorney General’s Office tracked Backpage.com ads offering “escort services” in the Indianapolis area during the 2015 NCAA Final Four championship and found a spike of more than 100 ads per day. There were 18 commercial sex-related arrests during the 2015 Final Four in Indianapolis.

The Indiana AG’s Office and the National Attorneys General Training & Research Institute (NAGTRI) are training law enforcement and investigators on identifying and prosecuting human trafficking today and tomorrow in Indianapolis. 

On Wednesday, Zoeller’s Office is partnering with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Indiana Intelligence Fusion Center and Hamilton County Tourism, Inc. to train area hotels to recognize and report signs of trafficking.

“As long as there is demand for commercial sex, traffickers will continue to illegally and ruthlessly exploit children,” Zoeller said. “These networks have gotten more sophisticated and new technologies allow them to operate largely undetected, but there are red flags and warning signs that can alert people to these crimes. Law enforcement will be on guard, but members of the public – particularly those in the tourism industry who may see signs of these crimes – can also play a critical role in spotting this activity and getting victims help.”

Zoeller is co-chair of the Indiana Protection for Abused and Trafficked Humans (IPATH) Task Force and serves on the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) Standing Committee on Human Trafficking.

Last year, the Attorney General’s Office launched the Indiana’s Not Buying It public awareness effort to refute myths about the commercial sex industry and human trafficking, and reduce demand for commercial sex. IndyCar driver Ed Carpenter is featured in the public service announcement, which can be viewed at www.INNotBuyingIt.com.

Zoeller has worked to raise awareness of human trafficking and reduce demand for commercial sex since 2011, when he joined a nationwide task force of attorneys general focused on stopping the problem of human trafficking.

In Indiana, Zoeller has advocated for several legislative changes that make it easier to prosecute and hold traffickers accountable, while also recognizing that those used in the sex trade are victims in need of help and support. This year, legislation was passed that increases criminal penalties for some of the worst crimes against children, including possession of child pornography and child exploitation.  

The AG’s Office and IPATH have trained thousands of law enforcement officers and members of the public on recognizing human trafficking. For more information, visit www.INNotBuyingIt.com.

Red flags of human trafficking can be found here. 

Human trafficking tips can be reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at: 888-3737-888 (text BeFree to 233733). If it is an emergency, call 911. If a child may be in danger, call the Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline: 1-800-800-5556.