Tallahassee, Florida – The Florida Cabinet has united in a stand against human trafficking, a pervasive issue in the state, which ranks third in the country for reported cases. Attorney General Ashley Moody revealed that the Cabinet is designating January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month, with elected officials issuing statements affirming their commitment to combating this crime.
Moody emphasized Florida’s zero-tolerance stance on human trafficking and highlighted the Statewide Prosecutors’ efforts to convict traffickers. She also emphasized the importance of training thousands of Floridians to identify and report potential signs of trafficking across various industries. Governor Ron DeSantis echoed this sentiment, asserting Florida’s determination to eliminate human trafficking through increased penalties for traffickers and intensified efforts to protect vulnerable children.
Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson emphasized the necessity of a united front to combat human trafficking and the importance of community involvement in identifying and reporting suspected cases. Similarly, Chief Financial Officer and Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis underscored the critical need for training first responders to recognize and address human trafficking cases.
Additionally, new laws have been enacted in Florida to strengthen the fight against human trafficking, including legislation providing training to state fire safety inspectors to identify human trafficking and enabling victims to sue their traffickers for damages. These laws also aim to increase penalties for adult establishments that exploit minors and require human trafficking information signs to be displayed in various facilities.
Beyond the state level, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott have raised concerns over policy changes that could potentially enable cross-border human trafficking and exploitation. This ongoing fight against human trafficking underscores the need for collaborative efforts at various levels of government and within communities to combat this pervasive crime.