What began as a series of conversations a year ago about promoting a state hotline for trafficking victims seeking help grew into a new awareness initiative involving the posting of signs at service areas along the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.

MOUNT LAUREL — Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry fueled by the demand for illicit sex trades and cheap labor.

Despite efforts of law enforcement to identify victims and make cases against traffickers, the human slave trade continues to grow and flourish, with the victims often hiding in plain sight.

Those realities drove Judi Worgess and members of the South Jersey Abolitionists and New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking to reach out to state Sen. Troy Singleton to see if more could be done to help the victims of these heinous crimes get assistance.

What began as a series of conversations a year ago about promoting a state hotline for trafficking victims seeking help grew into a new awareness initiative involving the posting of signs at service areas along the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.

The signs will be prominently displayed near the sinks in restrooms and include the following messages in both English and Spanish: “Looking for a Way Out? Are you or someone you know being controlled, watched or threatened by someone? Being forced to perform sex? Being forced to work for little or no pay? You have rights. Even if you’re not a citizen.”

The signs also include the state and national trafficking hotline numbers (855-END-NJ-HT and 888-373-7888.)

Singleton, who unveiled the signs at a New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking forum Thursday night at Rowan College at Burlington County, said the initiative was a concrete first step to try to assist victims and eradicate a problem that too often gets ignored.

He noted that New Jersey is a well-traveled corridor between major metropolitan cities like New York, Boston, Washington and Philadelphia and that many victims of trafficking are likely to see the signs on both the turnpike and parkway.

“Too often we don’t do enough to try to extend help and sometimes the best way you can provide help is to provide information,” Singleton said about the signs. He credited Worgess for the idea and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and state Attorney General’s Office for embracing it and helping to bring it from “concept to concrete.”

“We believe we are starting on the first step to try to do work necessary to ensure that this version of modern day slavery — and I don’t say that lightly — is eradicated from the face of this earth, especially here where we can put our own footprint and handprint on it in New Jersey,” the senator said. “Victims and individuals who are yearning for a way out, feeling that they are trapped, can at least identify a number to call to do that.”

Joining Singleton at the forum was Kathy Friess, program coordinator for the state Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Task Force, who told those in attendance that despite increased awareness and successes by law enforcement to identify victims and prosecute cases, that the illicit trade continues to grow globally.

″$150 billion globally is being made in this criminal enterprise. Just a few years ago, it was $32 billion. We have become so much more informed, better educated and aware. We’re identifying victims and we’re identifying the crime of human trafficking and we’re making cases and prosecuting traffickers and rescuing victims. And yet in that time period it advanced that much financially for the criminals,” Friess said.

New Jersey is far from immune. In 2018, 224 cases of human trafficking were reported in New Jersey, up from 167 in 2017 and 73 in 2012, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Singleton said the hotline initiative was an example of “citizen advocacy” teaming with government to try to tackle a problem.

“Our democracy and our government has always relied on people, regardless of title and regardless of any moniker they have, who want to step up and do something. This is a concrete example,” the senator said during his forum address.

He said legislation has also been introduced to try to combat the heinous crime, including bills requiring people seeking commercial driver’s licenses to complete a training course on how to identify and respond to suspected human trafficking and another allowing civil actions against people or businesses who profit from human trafficking offenses.

“The motels that see folks come in and out who decide they’d rather make a buck than try to step in the way and save somebody’s life. When our legislation is signed into law, there will be no quarter for individuals who turn a blind eye to human suffering for the all mighty dollar,” he said.

Worgess, a Pemberton resident who is also a founding member of the In His Image Justice Coalition, praised Singleton and his staff for their work on the issue.

“Senator Singleton and Jennifer Aydjian, his chief of staff, worked tirelessly with us on this project. We’re so appreciative for their commitment and dedication and their hearts for the victims of human trafficking,” Worgess said.

Original Article