Anti-human trafficking campaign to require business
Hundreds of local businesses throughout the county will soon be required to post a notice on their premises aimed at alerting the public and employees of a hotline to seek help for or report human trafficking.
The campaign, known as the Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) Awareness Project, will start by making certain categories of local businesses aware of their obligations under state civil code to post the notices.
The impacted businesses include locations that have an increased likelihood of coming into contact with victims of human and labor trafficking, such as truck stops, bus stations, casinos, massage parlors, bars and restaurants where alcohol is sold, emergency rooms, adult book stores and labor contractors, to name a few.
The public notice requirement has been a state law for the past three years, although the practice has yet to have been widely adopted in the Valley, said Assistant District Attorney Deborah Owen.
“The reason they haven’t been posted is because businesses are not aware of it,” Owen said. “I don’t think any business is going to complain about it.”
In the coming weeks, student workers with the Victim Witness Assistance Program and the county District Attorney’s Office will be mailing about 300 local businesses a letter advising them of their legal requirements, as well as providing a free copy of the public notice to be posted.
Notices will have “user-friendly” information in both English and Spanish similar to what travelers may have previously encountered in airports.
By law, impacted business owners will be required to place the public notice in a “conspicuous” location near an entrance or other prominent location visible to both the public and employees.
Failure to post the public notice can result in a $500 fine for a first offense, and $1,000 for subsequent offenses, a press release from the DA’s Office stated.
Although it may take some time to get all impacted businesses to comply, random compliance checks are scheduled to begin toward the end of the month, Owen said
“I’m optimistic that we will not have to fine anyone,” she said.
Los Angeles County officials have already implemented the human trafficking public notice requirement and reportedly have not encountered any opposition, Owen said.
The roll-out of the public notice campaign will also be followed by a local billboard campaign aimed at alerting the public of the human trafficking hotline.
Soon after the advisory letters and public notices are mailed, student workers with the DA’s Office, along with the assistance of its investigative unit and volunteers from the community, will conduct the compliance checks.
State funds have been made available from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to have student workers help with the awareness campaign.
The issue of human trafficking has gotten a lot of attention lately on college campuses, Owen said, noting the increased amount of academic interest and research as well as enhanced anti-human trafficking laws and enforcement efforts.
“It’s something that allows us to provide a learning opportunity for college students as well,” she said.
The DA’s Office already has one student worker compiling a list of the local businesses that will be required to post the notice.
In most instances, the impacted businesses are easily identified and accessible, such as bars, restaurants and public and private job recruiting centers, while others such as adult- and sexually-oriented businesses and individuals doing bodywork for compensation may be more difficult to identify and reach.
“We’re trying to clear that up, so we have a comprehensive list by area,” Owen said.
In early March, the DA’s Office had mailed a letter to community leaders advising them of the HEAT campaign, its intentions and significance.
The HEAT campaign also closely follows the second annual Summit on Human Trafficking that took place in May in El Centro and which gave participants an update on ongoing local initiatives and participating stakeholders.
Some of those initiatives include the DA’s Office and county Social Services Department developing protocols to identify and provide services for exploited children.
Future plans to help combat and raise awareness of human trafficking also include the development of curriculum to be implemented in local classrooms to raise teachers’ and students’ awareness of the issue, Owen said.
Imperial County was one of five rural counties in the state that were chosen to receive training to develop and implement the curriculum.
“Every single school district in Imperial County has agreed to participate,” Owen said.
Training individuals who may come into contact with potential victims of sex and labor trafficking about telltale signs and symptoms can go a long way toward combating the criminal activity, especially since victims themselves are often reluctant to come forward of their own volition, Owen said.
It is not uncommon to encounter a victim who may feel responsible for their predicament, have become accustomed to the lifestyle, is a runaway with little to no options, or is being victimized by family or loved ones, Owen said.
“That’s why educating the public and first responders on how we respond to potential victims is important,” she said.