Human trafficking cases are difficult to quantify as so many victims remain unknown. According to the 2022 Report from the New York State Interagency Task Force, which was recently published this year, there were 249 confirmed cases, while the National Human Trafficking Hotline reported 467 cases of human trafficking involving 622 victims. Most of these victims were sex trafficked.

“Human trafficking is a crime with so many silent victims who are lost with little hope. For the hundreds who are identified in our state annually, how many more remain undiscovered? As a task force, we will explore, with the help of experts and stakeholders, what more New York can do to combat human trafficking and support survivors of these horrific crimes. The many perspectives shared around the state will help us develop legislation and policy recommendations to ensure more people are helped and do not fall victim to human trafficking,” said Maher, ranking Minority on the Committee on Social Services and sitting member of the Committees on Children and Families and Mental Health.

“Our Task Force on Human Trafficking is as much a fact-finding mission as it is to raise awareness within our communities that these crimes against vulnerable women and children exist right here in our state. Hearing from individuals from many disciplines working to help victims and prevent trafficking is going to give us a better understanding of the true problem at hand. No matter their walk of life, people deserve to be safe and free. I hope the legislation we develop will move New York state that much closer to a place where trafficking is brought to light so it cannot thrive in darkness,” said Walsh, who is a child advocate in her home county and sits on the committees on Education and Mental Health.

“Thank you, Assemblyman Brian Maher and the Assembly Minority Conference for dedicating resources to this important issue. We will continue to work with our partners to get the victims of human trafficking the assistance and services that they desperately need. We must do more and this task force will be a catalyst to ensure this work gets done,” said Arteta.

“Human trafficking is happening in all of our communities, the opportunity to share and learn at the task force hearing was invaluable. We are excited for this opportunity and look forward to hearing from partners throughout NYS. The establishment of this task force allows for coordinating services, leveraging resources and collaborating on local and state levels, all of which can strengthen our support for survivors,” said Kostyal-Larrier.

Among the stakeholders present were Orange County Family Court Judge Carol S. Klein, Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler, Town of Blooming Grove Supervisor Robert C. Jeroloman, Chief of Police Keith Dworkin, Village of Millbrook Police Department and deputies and officers from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Village of Millbrook Police Department, City of Middletown Police and Town of Montgomery Police Department. Other guests included Alison Esposito, retired deputy inspector and commanding officer, New York City Police Department and David Weiss, chief of the Human Trafficking Unit, Kings County District Attorney’s Office. Additionally, representatives from the Orange County Department of Social Services, the Dutchess County Task Force Against Human Trafficking, Fearless! Hudson Valley, Inc., Mental Health Association in Orange County, Inc. and Wallkill Central School District.

The Minority task force thanks its venue partner, the Village of Walden, for providing the space for this important discussion to occur. Previous meetings of the task force occurred in July in Suffolk and Nassau counties, in September in the Capital Region and earlier in October in Western New York, Central New York and the Lower Hudson Valley region. A final task force is being planned for New York City stakeholders in the near future.