The overall trend of increased human trafficking numbers across Kansas looks likely to continue.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline says Kansas had 37 cases and 84 calls to authorities reported as of June 30. That’s on pace to top the 67 cases reported last year, although the pace of human trafficking-related calls to authorities is off from last year’s 218.
In 2012, there were 27 cases reported statewide, with 36 in 2013 and 51 in 2014. Cases dipped in 2015 to 42 before increasing to 54 two years ago and 67 last year. From 2007 through June of this year, there have been almost 350 cases involving nearly 800 victims in Kansas.
SOS Director Connie Cahoone says victims often know their traffickers.
Cahoone also tells KVOE the grooming process often has the same general flow, even if the details change from case to case.
Cahoone says Kansas is a prime location for human trafficking because of its highway network and central location, even though it ranks well below other states when it comes to reported cases. So far this year, Kansas ranks 30th nationally, ahead of neighboring states like Arkansas and Nebraska and behind other neighboring states like Colorado, Missouri and Oklahoma. California has the most cases for the first half of this year with nearly 800.
Just this year, there have been almost 5,200 human trafficking cases reported this year across the country.
Click here for information from the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
Click here for information from the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.
