The Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. — A new report says human trafficking is happening in Wisconsin, but most law enforcement agencies haven’t received any training to recognize the crime and don’t consider it a problem.
The report from the state Office of Justice Assistance is the first to try to gauge the extent of human trafficking in the state.
The report surveyed scores of law enforcement agencies and social service providers. It found dozens of victims, but three-quarters of the justice agencies and a third of the service providers say trafficking isn’t a problem.
The report calls for more training and education to recognize cases where people are forced into commercial sex or labor.
The state Senate is poised to vote on a bill next week that would make human trafficking illegal in Wisconsin.
Democratic Senator Spencer Coggs of Milwaukee is the author of the bill. He says the report may drive him to amend it to include police training on the issue.