Sally Doty - Human Trafficking in Mississippi

Mississippi State Senator Sally Doty is outspoken about the issue of human trafficking, and works hard to put an end to this crime. In 2015, Governor Phil Bryant appointed her to the Human Trafficking Taskforce, and she has worked hard to tackle this statewide issue. Mississippi’s location, as well as poverty levels and other social issues, have made this state susceptible to human trafficking.

                                                            

Human trafficking is an issue on the coast of Mississippi as well as in the state’s capitol city of Jackson. Location is a major factor in human trafficking. Mississippi sits on the Gulf Coast, and the Port of Gulfport is a major hub for international trade between the Americas. The Gulf Coast is also a major tourist destination. These two factors make this area ideal for human traffickers. Jackson is also an ideal location for these criminals because it is the largest city in Mississippi and two major interstate highways run through the city. Locations such as these make transporting victims easy for human traffickers. 

A recent study and report released by the Beautiful Ones Ministries and Belhaven University showed that four counties in Jackson, Mississippi were a central hub for sex trafficking in southeastern United States. The study discovered that this was due to the state’s poverty levels, family structures, and educational gaps. Sandy Middleton, the Executive Director of the Mississippi Center for Violence Prevention reported that one married couple had sold their daughter to an out of state truck driver for $5,000.

Source:http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/03/13/report-raises-alarms-over-child-sex-trafficking.html
 http://www.advocatesforfreedom.org/uploads/2/3/9/1/23914364/brochure.pdf