In a concerted effort against sex trafficking, the FBI recently last Monday arrested 150 people, recovered 105 minors ranging in age from 13 to 17 years old, across 76 cities involving 236 law enforcement agencies in a three day action dubbed “Operation Cross Country”. Since year 2005, 2700 minor age children have been recovered in similar law enforcement actions. In Tennessee, 7 were arrested in Knoxville and 3 in Memphis while 3 children were rescued. This came about even as most states amended laws increasing penalties against the crime of sex trafficking while at the same time modifying certain rules that would allow government to prosecute offenders more effectively. The news story relates how inadequate the government services are to respond to the needs of victims surviving the tragic events. Rehabilitative services are at present inadequate. In response to this need, Tennessee has prepared a comprehensive plan involving all stakeholders- state departments and agencies, survivors, victim advocacy groups, NGOs, law enforcement agencies, civic groups and institutions, legal aid, to rehabilitate victims, provide medical and non-medical care, and other forms of assistance for reintegration of survivors into the community. Given the magnitude and scope of the problem of survivor rehabilitation and the inadequacy of the services at the community level, it is no wonder that pro bono services providing legal aid to victims and survivors is urgently needed. Legal advice to survivors at the time of first contact with authorities is needed to temper the enthusiasm of first responders to catch the perpetrators and prosecute them at the expense of the victim. There is the need for legal action to initiate expungement of records of victims to facilitate reintegration of survivors into communities. The plan formalizes the procedures to be followed by each actor in specific situations. Each situation relates to six areas of concern; criminal and labor law enforcement; victim identification and protection; giving victims access to benefits and services; coordination and delivery of services from providers; education and public awareness promotion; reunification and reintegration – where concrete steps are taken to produce desired outcomes for the victims’ well-being. The plan, specifically ‘Tennessee Human Trafficking Services Coordination and Service Delivery Plan” is as comprehensive as it needs to be for it to be effective. It has made mandatory reporting the norm in sex trafficking cases and standardized procedures dealing with every eventuality in promoting the safety and well-being of victims. It has established coordination links with federal departments and agencies comprising the President’s Inter-agency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Human Trafficking. What the plan lacks are the warm bodies in the community who need to be involved. Learning about such law-related topics and not just about bankruptcy attorneys Nashville TN are worth reading and learning from. 1: By being vigilant and identifying and later reporting child abuse. 2: By caring when victims are reintegrated into the community. 3: By acting individually as professionals giving needed services to assist victims. 4: By giving contributions to NGOs who provide care and services to survivors. Gratis et amore. Pro bono.
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