Human Trafficking
Human trafficking has long been an issue in Montgomery County, in Maryland, nationally and internationally. Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery where people profit from the control and exploitation of others (Polaris Project). There are generally two forms of trafficking: sex and labor. Victims of human trafficking include men, women, boys and girls.
The Polaris Project, a national non-profit that assists human trafficking victims, does an excellent job of collecting statistics by state. Maryland data may be found here.
Montgomery County Human Trafficking Prevention Committee
In 2014, County Executive Ike Leggett created the Montgomery County Human Trafficking Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to increase understanding of the issue in Montgomery County and to develop interagency coordination of strategies for response and prevention.In October 2017, the task force transitioned into the Montgomery County Human Trafficking Prevention Committee (Committee) via 27-17 Human Rights and Civil Liberties—Human Trafficking Prevention Committee Established.
The Committee’s overarching goals include:
- Increasing the identification and prosecution of all parties supporting the organized crime of human trafficking to include traffickers, suppliers, transporters, advertisers and demand elements;
- Elimination of human trafficking, and
- Improving identification of and services for human trafficking victims
The following organizations are active in reducing and preventing trafficking in Montgomery County:
Office of the County Executive
Montgomery County Commission for women
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office
Council Member Dawn Luedtke
Montgomery County Police Department
Legislative Sub-Committee
The legislative committee is responsible for researching best practices within the criminal justice system to combat human trafficking. The committee meets six times a year.
County Bill 9-15, Health and Sanitation—Bodywork Establishment—License. The bill was signed into law April 22, 2015. The legislative sub-committee worked with the entire task force to introduce and implement County Bill 9-15. The law is the first of its kind in Maryland, and requires a license to operate a bodywork establishment in the county. Bodyworks establishments are businesses that advertise bodywork services, such as reflexology, acupressure and other practices that fall outside the Maryland State definition of massage, or where any employee, agent or contractor performs bodywork on an individual. The law ensures that legal establishments can operate while providing enforcement against illegal establishments. Licenses are issued through the County’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
Enforcement is done by DHHS and the Montgomery County Police Department.
County bill 39-15 was also established to deter human trafficking in the county. Bill 39-15 makes purchasing prostitution a violation of county law. Although selling or buying prostitution violates the current State Criminal Law prohibiting solicitation of prostitution, Bill 39-15 adds an alternative law enforcement mechanism for the police to combat human trafficking in the County. A person is often forced to work as a prostitute by human traffickers at a young age. The bill authorizes a police officer to issue either a civil or criminal citation to the customer for purchasing prostitution in the county. A civil citation would be prosecuted by the County Attorney's Office and could result in a maximum fine of $500 for a first violation and $750 for subsequent violations. A criminal citation would be prosecuted by the State's Attorney and could result in both a fine up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail. The bill would be enforceable only against the customer. The bill was signed into law on November 25, 2015.
Subcommittee chair: Sophie Aron, Research and Program Coordinator, University of Maryland, Support, Advocacy, Freedom, and Empowerment, (SAFE) Center for Human Trafficking Survivors
sophie.aron@umaryland.edu
Education and Outreach Sub-Committee
The education and outreach committee is responsible for educating the community about human trafficking. The chair is Wendy Stickle, Director of the University of Maryland Criminology and Criminal Justice Program at the Universities at Shady Grove. Dr. Stickle’s e-mail is: wstickle@umd.edu
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The education and outreach committee is responsible for educating the community about human trafficking. The chair is Wendy Stickle, Director of the University of Maryland Criminology and Criminal Justice Program at the Universities at Shady Grove. Dr. Stickle’s e-mail is: wstickle@umd.edu
Victim Services Sub-Committee
This committee coordinates services for victims in the county. The victim services committee is co-chaired chaired by:
Jessica Volz DNP, CRNP, FNE A/P, FNP-BC, SANE-A, SANE-P, NE-BC, Clinical Director of Forensics, Forensic Medical Unit. Ms. Volz’s e-mail is: JVolz@adventisthealthcare.com
The subcommittees currently meet virtually on the dates and times listed below. Meeting dates and times are subject to change. Please email cfwinfo@montgomerycountymd.gov or call (240) 777-8333 to confirm.