By Katelin Carroll
Staff Reporter 

Human trafficking is not just an urban problem

Hohenwald demonstration has been scheduled

 

September 17, 2020

Human trafficking knows no socio-economic, racial or geographic barriers. Often when we think of human trafficking, we think of big cities, urban areas and stories that we have heard or read about from afar.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation conducted a study in 2013 called "The Geography of Trafficking in Tennessee."

In this study, the TBI tracked down and reported the number of human trafficking cases that had occurred in each county of the volunteer state.

"It is important to analyze the Tennessee counties that were identified as having the highest rates of minor human sex trafficking to provide better awareness and focus resources in those areas of Tennessee," said TBI Director Mark Gwyn in a letter.

The study only focused on the counties that reported 16 or more cases of sex trafficking minors. Lewis County was reported to have 16-25 cases.

"We can now make the distinction that sex trafficking is not solely an urban problem," said TBI Director Gwyn. "Both rural and urban areas have reported cases of sex trafficking."

Coffee, Davidson, Knox and Shelby counties had over 100 reported minor sex trafficking cases. Franklin, Rutherford, and Warren reported 51-100 cases. Carter, Hamilton, Lawrence, Madison, Roane, and Washington counties reported 26-50 cases.

The data collected for this report were numbers from 2011. Since then, child sexual exploitation has become the second fastest growing crime, only behind drug trafficking, and is projected to outgrow the drug industry within the next couple of years according to Davis House Marketing and Community Outreach Director, Tara Tidwell.

One of the reasons human trafficking has seen an increase in rural communities is due to poverty levels. A decrease in job availability and an increase in drug abuse, in turn, increases the number of people vulnerable to human trafficking.

"We often tell our kids about 'stranger danger' and while abduction does happen, that's actually a very rare portion of what we see," said Tidwell. "With sexual abuse, about 90 percent of these kids know and trust their abuser whether its their parents, relatives, teachers, or coaches."

In the 2013 report, one reporting officer recounted his experience with human trafficking, "My experience with human trafficking was a father who was abusing his daughters and then letting his friends participate for a fee."

One positive that has come from the increase of human trafficking is it has also sparked an increase in awareness, which means an increase in reports being made.

Hohenwald resident Jessica Mercer has decided to take action against the crime by raising awareness here in Hohenwald.

Mercer took to Facebook by creating the page "Hohenwald Child Trafficking Awareness Assembly," in order to create a space where our local community can gather and share information.

"I started the group to bring awareness to an issue that is surrounded by misinformation and is constantly getting 'swept under the rug,'" said Mercer.

To further bring awareness, a demonstration has been scheduled to take place right here in Lewis County on Sunday, Sept. 20th, at the Courthouse from 1-3 p.m.

"Human trafficking is a rapidly growing industry that is only getting worse," Mercer said, "For me, turning a blind eye is unacceptable as it's only going to help the human trafficking industry grow."

All those who wish to participate in the demonstration are welcome to join and help bring awareness to human trafficking.

Next week's edition will be about identifying the signs of human trafficking and who to report them to.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024

Rendered 03/12/2024 04:04