Good morning Tuesday, dear seekers.
A recent report paints a bright and disturbing picture — the state of human trafficking in Pennsylvania and across the country and the efforts of federal prosecutors to confront it and punish those responsible.
“Human trafficking is a crime that occurs in every corner of the globe, including the United States, and disproportionately affects the most vulnerable populations among us. At its core, human trafficking is the forced exploitation of another person for commercial gain.” Lindsey N. Robersonsenior legal advisor at the law firm Institute of Human Traffickingthe Virginia-based organization that created the report writes in the document’s introduction.
“Because this is an economic crime that often hides a hierarchy of power and control that is arduous to understand, disentangle and prosecute, an effective public justice system is necessary to holding traffickers accountable. In the United States, a federal law known as Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) provides a comprehensive legal framework that criminalizes human trafficking and encourages a victim-centered and trauma-informed approach when dealing with these convoluted cases,” Roberson noticed.
The report was prepared by a team of seven attorneys and six law school students who reviewed every human trafficking case heard in the federal court system in 2019, the report said. In addition to reviewing court documents, press releases and news reports, investigators also contacted prosecutors across the country to “collect a comprehensive data set including: type of human trafficking case, profile of the trafficker, details of the trafficking pattern, age of the victim and the county in which there was a case,” among other factors.
Below, look at Pennsylvania by the numbers.
In 2019, the Keystone State ranked:
- Fourth in the nation for the number of dynamic human trafficking criminal cases pending in state federal courts (37 dynamic cases).
- 9th in the country for the number of recent cases, with four recent cases.
- Fourth in the country for the number of convictions with 19 convicted.
- 20th in the country in the percentage of defendants ordered to pay restitution, with five of 17 defendants ordered to pay restitution.
A total of 606 human trafficking-related criminal cases were heard in U.S. district courts. This number included recent cases, pending cases and cases on appeal, the report said.
Of these cases:
- “575 (94.9 percent) involved sex trafficking
- “31 (5.1 percent) cases involved forced labor.
- “The report shows that one hundred forty-five (23.9 percent) of human trafficking cases initiated in 2019 were recent. This means that prosecutors brought the first charges in 2019.
- This is “a 14.7 percent decrease compared to 2018, when prosecutors filed 170 recent cases
- “This decline is due to an even greater decline in the previous year, from 218 new cases in 2017 to 170 in 2018. In total, over the last two years, prosecutors filed a 33.5% increase in the number of cases. fewer new cases, which according to available data is the longest decline since the passage of the TVPA in 2000.”
How to fix it? According to the report’s authors, the answer is plain.
“The federal government can and does commit increasing resources to prevent victims of human trafficking and help survivors rebuild their lives, but one of the most effective ways to combat human trafficking is to prosecute traffickers,” the report says.
Advertising Department.
President Donald Trump will appear in Moon Township, Allegheny County, tonight at 7 p.m. Before this visit Democratic National Committee launches recent digital ad targeting western Pennsylvania voters.
It takes up space Trump a task related to his trade policy in China and its impact on farmers. You can watch the spot “Pennsylvania cannot afford four more years of failure” by clicking the link.
“When Trump returns to Pittsburgh, he takes with him four years of lost jobs, skyrocketing unemployment and broken promises,” he added. Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez – he said in a statement obtained exclusively by Capital-Star. “Voters will never forget this Trump lost the trade war with China, the Keystone State lost good-paying manufacturing jobs and it’s clear it has no strategy to get them back. Meanwhile, Joe Biden has a plan to build our nation back better Trump the Covid-19 economy and create more union jobs. We simply cannot afford another four years Donald Trump“
Ah… politics.
Our stuff.
From our staff, a handy guide you can pin and save with everything you need to know about voting — both by mail and in person — this election season. Share it with your friends and family.
Scranton Fringe Festivalwhich draws tens of thousands of people to the Electric City every year, is taking a slightly different – and socially distanced – approach this year. NEPA correspondent Patrick Abdalla has everything you need to know a revamped festival they call “Fringe Under Glass.”
With the end of the fight approaching United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s exchange, U.S. Senator Bob Casey, R-Pennsylvania, positions itself in opposition. U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., so far maintains his views whether to fill the seat before the elections for themselves, Washington reporter Ariana Figueroa reports.
Opinions appear regularly on our comments page this morning Bruce Ledewitz says Mitch McConnell desire to control the Supreme Court he might as well destroy it. And occasional correspondent Jill Sunday Bartolifrom Carlisle in Cumberland County, is fed up with political ads that insult viewers’ intelligence (which excludes, well, almost all of them).
Elsewhere.
Questioning flows into Berks County, which has chosen four of the last five winning presidential candidates.
Four counties that received favorable federal court rulings Governor Tom Wolf closure of businesses and restrictions on gathering indoors they are fighting the administration’s request to suspend this order, Mail Newspaper reports.
As expected, Governor Tom Wolf vetoed the bill, giving school districts the final decision in interschool athletics, PennLive reports. Get ready for your next veto override fight.
After another shooting people question the effectiveness of security forces at Lehigh Valley Mall, Morning call reports.
The Voice of Citizens checks in with the restaurant owners on the first day allowed to reopen at 50% capacity.
Here’s your #Pittsburgh Instagram of the Day:
Residents Temple University North Philadelphia area they demand influence on the choice the future president of the school, WHY-FM reports.
Kutztown University reopened and there has been a surge in Covid-19 cases, residents of the area they wonder what to do next, Key intersection reports.
There will be those who will blame the deceased Ruth Bader Ginsburg for not relenting sooner. Rebecca Traister On Cutting he says they are missing the point.
Manhattan And Cyrus Vance says President Donald Trump could be investigated for tax fraud, NYMag Interview reports.
What’s going on.
The Senate is meeting today at 1:00 p.m. Here is an overview of the commission’s work today.
9:00, Senate Hall: Committee for Agriculture and Rural Affairs
10:00, Audition Room 1, Północ Office Building: Committee on the Judiciary
10:30, Senate Hall: Transport Committee
11:00, Audition Room 1, Północ Office Building: Health and Social Care Committee
12.00, Senate Hall: Consumer Protection and Professional Licensing Commission
12:00 Audition Room 1, Północ Office Building: Committee on Labor and Industry
12:30, Senate Hall: Education Committee
From the floor: Committee for Agriculture and Rural Affairs
From the floor: Appropriations Committee
From the floor: Committee on Executive Rules and Nominations
From the floor: State Government Committee
At home:
13:00,. 205 Ryan: House of Representatives Commerce Committee
13:00, 140 MC: Committee on Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness
14:00, G50 Irvis: Democratic Policy Committee
Wolf watch.
Governor Tom Wolf and condition Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine hold a press conference at 2:30 p.m. in Philadelphia to launch the state’s recent COVID-19 mobile notification app. This may be the only notification on your phone that you don’t really bother with.
What’s Going On (Naked Political Edition).
8 a.m.: Breakfast for Senator Gene Yaw
8 a.m.: Virtual fundraiser for Senator John Sabatina
17:30: Actual Rparty for House Minority Leader Frank Dermody
17:30: Party for Candidate for Pa. Senate. Kevin Runey
Drive around the track and give it your all, and virtual or not, you’ll lose a real real $14,500 today.
Heavy rotation.
Here Assassins coverage“Electric blue”, a classic of 80s Australian popsters Icehouse. As always, the song remains ridiculously good.
Tuesday free hockey link.
Tampa they beat Dallas 3-2 on Monday nighttie Stanley Cup last series after one match.
And now you’re up to date.
