Col. Mike Hagar, right, Secretary of Public Safety and Director of Arkansas State Police, answers questions about Sen. Bart Hester’s Freedom of Information Act bill during a Senate committee hearing in September 2023. At left is Allison Bragg, Secretary of the Department of Inspector General. (Photo by John Sykes Jr. /Arkansas Advocate)
Days after Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders named public safety as one of her priorities for the 95th General Assembly, the Arkansas State Police announced a new webpage that provides human trafficking victims with county-level resources.
Arkansas governor lays out legislative priorities in State of the State
The website provides a searchable, county-by-county map that victims can use to locate resources closest to them, including legal services, adult restorative care facility and child advocacy centers. It also implements a reporting system for the public.
“…I know this resource will help leaders, advocates, and victims across our state combat trafficking in their communities,” Sanders said in a Friday press release.
Introduction of ASP’s new webpage coincides with National Human Trafficking Month. It was a collaborative effort from the Arkansas Human Trafficking Council, the Attorney General’s office and the Department of Human Services, according to a press release.
“Prevention is the first step toward action,” said Col. Mike Hagar, ASP director and Public Safety secretary, in a statement. “Our sincere hope is that this new webpage will help to empower Arkansans to recognize the signs of trafficking and that it will serve as a way for victims to connect with critical resources. The Department of Public Safety and Arkansas State Police are committed to protecting those at risk and holding traffickers accountable.”
“Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act,” according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The crime does not need to include the physical movement of a person.
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“Even if victims initially offer consent, that consent is rendered meaningless by the actions of the traffickers to exploit them for labor, services or commercial sex,” according to the ASP.
Efforts to prevent human trafficking in recent years include an executive order from Sanders in 2023 that called for a “coordinated and integrated approach to safeguard children and prevent human trafficking in Arkansas by supporting victims and prosecuting human traffickers to the fullest extent of the law.”
Afterward, the Arkansas Human Trafficking Council launched using a $1.5 million, three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, according to a press release from ASP. In 2024, the task force provided care to 28 adults and identified 134 victims during operations in Hot Springs, Little Rock and Northeast Arkansas.
The group has also implemented new identification tools, adopted new policies and trained 2,500 individuals, according to an ASP press release.
On Monday, Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester named human trafficking as a legislative focus for some lawmakers.
“Over the 95th General Assembly, we’ve still got plenty of work to do,” Hester, R-Cave Springs, said during an opening speech to the Senate on Monday. “Leaders like [Sens.] Josh Bryant and Missy Irvin will push Arkansas to be a national leader in protecting victims of human trafficking, while sending a stiff message to the traffickers that we’re going to find you and we’re going to deliver the harshest penalties in the country.”
The only legislation filed related to human trafficking so far is led by Rep. Steve Unger, R-Springdale. House Bill 1059 would offer a free lifetime hunting and fishing license to any commercial truck driver who provides information on human trafficking.
The information must lead to the rescue of a victim of human trafficking or the conviction of someone who is trafficking, according to the bill.
According to ASP, 108 children are currently missing in Arkansas, 11 of whom have been missing for more than two years.
“The fight against human trafficking requires a collective effort from law enforcement, nonprofits, state agencies, and the community,” Sgt. Matt Foster, Arkansas Human Trafficking coordinator, said in a statement. “This webpage is not just a resource—it’s a signal of our commitment to victims and survivors across Arkansas. Our work will not stop until every trafficker is brought to justice and every victim has a path to recovery.”
Department of Human Services Secretary Kristi Putnam and Attorney General Tim Griffin also shared positive sentiments about the new webpage.
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