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Recent report gave Iowa an 'F' in the fight to stop human trafficking

The Iowa Department of Public Safety launched a program that implements state law, requiring all Iowa hotels to complete human trafficking prevention training.

Recent report gave Iowa an 'F' in the fight to stop human trafficking

The Iowa Department of Public Safety launched a program that implements state law, requiring all Iowa hotels to complete human trafficking prevention training.

ALL ACROSS IOWA, YOU’LLIN F 1500 HOTELS. BUT WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW IS THEY CAN BE A HOT SPOT FOR HUMAN TRAFCKFIING. >> THERE IS GROUPS THAT WILL TRAVEL. WE HAVE TWO MAJOR INTERSTESAT COMING THROUGH THE STATE. REPORTER: A NEW REPORT BY SHADRE HOPE INTERNATIONAL GIVES IOWA AN F WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THE RANKINGS ARE BASED ON THINGS LIKE IDENTIFYING VICTIMS, ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR SURVIVORS, AND PREVENTION AND TRAING.IN >> A LOT OF IT IS UNDETECTABLE THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SEE. REPORTER: THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY NOW HOPES REQUIRING EVERY HOTEL EMPLOYEE TO COMPLETE HUMAN TRAFFICKG PREVENTION TRAINING WILL CURB THE PROBLEM. THIS REQUIREMENT IS PART OAF STATE LAW PASSED IN JULY 2020. IT INCLUDES HOTELS, CAMP SITES, AND AIRBN’S.' IF ALL EMPLOYEES DON’T COMPLETE THE TRAINING BY JANUARY 1, THEY CAN’T CEREIVE STATE FUNDS. AND THAT COULD AFFECT SCHOOLS COMPETING IN STATE TOURNAMENTS OR COMPANIES HOLDING CONFERENCES ATNY H AOTEL. NO PUBLIC FUNDS CAN BE USED TO PAY FOR E THLODGING IF HOTELS DON’T COMPLETE THE TRAINING. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT THINK IT HAPNSPE IN IOWA. BUITT DOES. REPORTER: YOU CAN FIND FREE TRAINING ONLE AT STOPHTIOWA.ORG. IT TEACHES IOWA’S LAW ON HANUM TRAFFICKING, HELPS TO IDENTIFY HUMAN TRAFFICKERS, AND EXPLAINS WHAT TO DO IF YOU NOTICET. I >>E HAVE THE FRONTLINE PEOPLE THAT MAY ACTUALLY SEE IT. THAT IDENTIFICATION WILL BE GREAT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. LAURA: SO FAR, A HANDFUL OF IOWA’S 1500 LODGING FACI
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Recent report gave Iowa an 'F' in the fight to stop human trafficking

The Iowa Department of Public Safety launched a program that implements state law, requiring all Iowa hotels to complete human trafficking prevention training.

Iowa law enforcement officials are teaming up with hotels to help curb human trafficking.All hotel employees in Iowa will be required to complete human trafficking prevention training by Jan. 1, 2022, or the hotel will not be able to accept public funds. "With human trafficking it's very hard to identify. So, if we have the front-line people that might actually see it, then that identification will be great for law enforcement, and they will be able to investigate those types of things and save victims," said Patrick Waymire, Assistant Director of the Division of Intelligence at the Iowa Department of Public Safety.The training requirement is part of a state law passed in July 2020. It affects 1,500 lodging facilities including campsites and AirBNBs. The free online training can be accessed at StopHTiowa.org. It teaches Iowa's law on human trafficking, helps to identify human traffickers and explains what to do if you notice it."It's a serious problem. It's probably growing. A lot of it is undetectable that we're not able to see, and so it's hard for us to know exactly how much is going on in the state," said Waymire. Waymire says hotels are often hot spots for human trafficking because it's a moving crime. "There's groups that will travel on what we call a circuit, and in Iowa, it's also very unique. We have two major interstates coming through the state," said Waymire. A handful of hotels have already completed the training.

Iowa law enforcement officials are teaming up with hotels to help curb human trafficking.

All hotel employees in Iowa will be required to complete human trafficking prevention training by Jan. 1, 2022, or the hotel will not be able to accept public funds.

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"With human trafficking it's very hard to identify. So, if we have the front-line people that might actually see it, then that identification will be great for law enforcement, and they will be able to investigate those types of things and save victims," said Patrick Waymire, Assistant Director of the Division of Intelligence at the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

The training requirement is part of a state law passed in July 2020. It affects 1,500 lodging facilities including campsites and AirBNBs. The free online training can be accessed at StopHTiowa.org. It teaches Iowa's law on human trafficking, helps to identify human traffickers and explains what to do if you notice it.

"It's a serious problem. It's probably growing. A lot of it is undetectable that we're not able to see, and so it's hard for us to know exactly how much is going on in the state," said Waymire.

Waymire says hotels are often hot spots for human trafficking because it's a moving crime.

"There's groups that will travel on what we call a circuit, and in Iowa, it's also very unique. We have two major interstates coming through the state," said Waymire.

A handful of hotels have already completed the training.