Ottawa County Detective Dave Bytwerk works with the FBI, local police departments, Michigan State Police, and other Sheriff departments in a task force to combat human trafficking. Their goal is to provide rapid, proactive, comprehensive response to threats of violent crime against children.

 

He gave some useful definitions. Federal jurisdiction often applies because interstate commerce includes moving people, making phone calls, and other activities that traffickers commonly do. Trafficking is determined by force, fraud, and coercion being involved. For example, smuggling is not human trafficking because there is no coercion. Labor trafficking is when a person is lured or forced to move to work with little or no pay and no control over their life. Labor trafficking is by far the most prevalent form of human trafficking and is investigated by the Homeland Security Department.

 

Sex trafficking is what the task force is exclusively involved with. When a person is under 18 and forced to perform sexual acts, it is automatically treated as sex trafficking. Street prostitution and escort services are not sex trafficking.

 

If you encounter a person who appears to be under the influence of someone else, who lets others speak for them, who lies about their age, or who seems to be coached when speaking, then you should call 911 and report a possible trafficking victim.

 

The law enforcement task force partners with many non-profit organizations that can offer victims safety, housing, food, and other necessities.