RALEIGH, N.C. — Human trafficking continues to be a problem in North Carolina, and a new program was designed to address the issue.
According to the North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission, N.C. ranks within the top 10 when it comes to states with the highest number of trafficking cases.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation has implemented new programing for public transit workers to try to lower the number of trafficking cases.
What You Need To Know
- N.C. ranks within the top 10 states for human trafficking cases
- Research shows traffickers frequent public transit often
- All N.C. public transit workers must take a course to address trafficking situations
- NCDOT launched the programming last month for public transit workers to try to address the problem
“Public transit has the ability to be inexpensive, has the ability to be anonymous when you're doing your travel. So it's a, it's a mode of transportation that's used a lot when you're talking about human trafficking," said Brennon Fuqua, the interim director of the integrated mobility division at NCDOT.
A study from the Polaris Project shows 42% of human traffickers have utilized public transit.
Employees working for public transportation agencies in North Carolina are now required to take a course that will teach them how to spot potential trafficking situations.
"A lot of our training talks about you shouldn't be afraid of bringing something up, even if it's just a suspicion," Fuqua said. "That could really save somebody's life.”
Anyone is able to take the training. If you would like more information, click here.