Lawmakers hear that dissolved task force left big gaps: trafficking reports fell from about 400 to 42 Lieutenant Mike Student told the joint committee that when a multi-stakeholder human trafficking task force shared data there were around 400 reports; after the DOJ grant and task force ended reporting dropped to roughly 42 reports from three agencies, creating large data gaps.

Vermont's human trafficking reports plummeted from 400 to just 42 after a crucial task force dissolved, leaving a dangerous gap in victim data and oversight.

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#VT #DataTransparency #LawEnforcementCollaboration #VictimSupport #VermontHumanTrafficking #CitizenPortal

State police lay out how human trafficking operates in Vermont and why it is hard to prosecute Lieutenant Mike Student told a joint House committee that trafficking in Vermont includes both commercial sex and labor forms, often exploits vulnerabilities, is underreported and frequently prosecuted at the federal level; he urged more victim-centered services and investigative resources.

Human trafficking in Vermont is a hidden crisis that exploits victims' vulnerabilities, making it a complex issue to detect and prosecute.

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#VT #VictimServices #PublicSafety #VermontHumanTrafficking #CitizenPortal #CivicAccountability