Beaver County News

Today, a hearing organized by Rep. Clint Owlett and the House Republican Policy Committee took place to address human trafficking in Pennsylvania. The event, titled "Uncovering Human Trafficking," was held at Three Springs Ministries.

The session aimed to define human trafficking under state law and highlight efforts to identify, stop, and prevent it. The discussion featured testimonies from several experts: Korrin Moon of Lantern Rescue, Scott Henry from Northern Tier Law Enforcement Instructors Group, Wyoming County District Attorney Joseph C. Peters, Chief Deputy Attorney General Heather Castellino, and Special Agent Gabriel Fabian from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General's human trafficking section.

"Training law enforcement and spreading awareness into the community on the realities of human trafficking is essential to dispelling the misconceptions around human trafficking," stated Moon. This approach aims to increase victim outreach and improve arrest and prosecution rates for traffickers.

Rep. Owlett emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue: "One of the fastest-growing crimes in our country, human trafficking is a grave violation of our values and a blight on our communities." He highlighted the need for enhanced tools for law enforcement and education within communities.

Chairman Josh Kail added that while progress is being made in public safety concerning this crime, more work remains: "Public safety can always be improved upon... Pennsylvania will not tolerate this inhumane crime."

Resources were provided for those seeking help or wishing to report suspected cases. Suspected human trafficking can be reported at 1-866-347-2423, while assistance from the National Human Trafficking Hotline is available at 1-888-373-7888 or via text to BeFree (233733).

The complete hearing is available online at pagoppolicy.com/video/policy.