Tallahassee, Fla. — Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and Governor Ron DeSantis, along with all members of the Florida Cabinet, have recognized January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the state. The resolution aims to address the issue of human trafficking, which affects an estimated 27.6 million victims worldwide, according to the U.S. Department of State. Attorney General Moody is focused on ending trafficking in Florida and training as many people as possible to identify and report suspicious activity related to this crime.
The Attorney General emphasized Florida’s commitment to being a zero-tolerance state for human trafficking. She highlighted the efforts of Statewide Prosecutors in stopping traffickers, with nearly perfect conviction rates. Furthermore, she stressed the importance of raising awareness and training thousands of individuals in various industries to recognize and report signs of trafficking.
Governor DeSantis echoed the sentiment, emphasizing Florida’s proactive stance in combating human trafficking, particularly in light of the federal government’s inaction regarding trafficking linked to the open Southern Border. He outlined the state’s efforts to increase penalties for traffickers, support victims, and protect vulnerable children.
Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis noted the disturbing statistic that Florida ranks third in the nation in reports to the national human trafficking hotline. He advocated for legislation providing training to fire safety inspectors to identify and recognize human trafficking, highlighting the critical role of first responders in saving lives and emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts to combat trafficking.
Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson emphasized the need for a united front in combatting human trafficking, urging all Floridians to learn the potential signs and indicators of trafficking and to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. He also highlighted the commitment of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to train employees and recognize signs of trafficking.
Florida continues to lead the way in combating human trafficking by allocating funding for therapeutic services for survivors and maintaining task forces in all 20 Florida judicial circuits to support law enforcement and prosecutors’ coordination on human trafficking cases.
Attorney General Moody, in her role as Chair of the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking, leads the efforts to build and enhance partnerships to eradicate human trafficking, coordinate law enforcement and social services responses, and support victims. The council consists of various stakeholders, including law enforcement leaders, prosecutors, legislators, and experts in health, education, and social services.
Florida residents are encouraged to learn the signs of human trafficking and report any suspicious activity, with resources available for reporting suspected cases. The state is committed to putting an end to human trafficking by involving every person in the fight against this crime.