Human trafficking report identifies shortcomings in CT’s response system

The report, released Tuesday by the Regionalized Human Trafficking Recovery Taskforce of the Greater Hartford Region, listed several major findings. Community services are backlogged. The system is disconnected across the state. Specialized training for professionals is limited. Victims hesitate to trust and collaborate with law enforcement. And the criminal justice system and court cases against perpetrators can drag on for extended periods of time.

Erin Williamson, the chief programs and strategy officer of Love146, which serves children across the state who have been trafficked, said victims need specialized help from professionals who have been trained in helping people who have gone through this type of trauma.

“This is such a complex victimization,” Williamson said, speaking at a press conference Tuesday. “It really is where your body is commodified. We have had children who have been sold for different amounts based on their race. Their understanding of their value and their worth is embedded in their victimization,” she said.