Human trafficking is a crime that involves the trading of human beings and exploiting them for profits. Individuals of all ages, genders, races, and backgrounds can be victims of human trafficking. Global crime has the probability of happening in every region worldwide.
Typically, human traffickers are renowned for using violence, fake promises, fraudulent employment organizations, and deceiving job opportunities, among others. Individuals or networks that practice the lucrative crime of human trafficking trick the vulnerable and desperate people who are looking for greener pastures somewhere away from their homes.
Types of Human Trafficking
Human traffic has three core elements which include the act of trafficking, means of trafficking, and the purpose. Acts of trafficking involve aspects like recruitment, transfer, harboring, or transportation. Means of trafficking involve threats, use of force, coercion, deception, and abuse of power, among others. Majorly the purpose of human trafficking is for exploitation.
Types of human trafficking can be categorized into the following forms;
Trafficking For Sexual Exploitation:
It’s the most prevalent form of human trafficking in the world. Women and small girls from vulnerable societies are usually tricked for decent employment. While in foreign lands, the victims will be held in constant terror, inhuman conditions, and frequently forced into sex.
Human Trafficking for Criminal Activities:
Trafficking humans for illegal activities allows networks to reap immense benefits from a wide array of activities by risking other people's lives. The criminal activities that human trafficking victims can be forced to do include theft, selling of counterfeit products, drug cultivation, or forced street begging.
Trafficking For Forced Labor:
Human trafficking victims are forced to work in mining sites, agricultural plantations, construction sites, and fisheries. In addition to the other labor-intensive activities, the trafficking victims are also made to work in domestic servitude.
Trafficking For Organ Removal:
Most states have long transplant lists. Unfortunately, criminals have decided to exploit the patient's desperation and force other people to be potential donors. The aging population has increased prevalence of diabetes and the cases of organ damage, increasing the requirement for organ transplants and the incidence of human trafficking.
Human Smuggling:
People smuggling is closely related to human trafficking since most victims of human trafficking can fall into forced labor. Smugglers force people to work under inhumane conditions to compensate for the illegal trespassing across the borders.
What Louisiana Laws Say about Human Trafficking
According to Louisiana Law, LA Rev Stat § 14:46.2 (2017), Human trafficking is unlawful if someone knowingly recruits, transport, receive, isolate or maintain human beings for labor or services. In addition, it's also unlawful for someone to knowingly recruit, solicit or isolate an individual aged less than 21 years for commercial sex activities.
In Louisiana State, if someone commits the crime of human trafficking involving the activity of commercial sex or any form of forceful sexual misconduct, they are prone to a fine of $15,000 and imprisonment for a maximum of 20 years.
In addition, the property used to execute and the offense is seized and impounded. After conviction, the property is sold through public auction by the district lawyer or otherwise donated if not disposed of.
When human trafficking involves people aged less than 18 years, the traffickers are fined $25,000 or less and be imprisoned for a minimum of 5 years. There is no benefit for sentence suspension.
What to Look For Before Hiring Human Trafficking Lawyer
Everyone must have a lawyer in today's world. Even if you're the cleverest and most powerful person, you will still find yourself at a point where you need legal assistance. Human trafficking is the number one case that will call for legal support, advice, and counseling. Therefore, you need to have a reliable human trafficking lawyer.
Before hiring a lawyer to help you with issues related to human trafficking, some things should be part of the vetting process. First, you need to be sure whether the knowledge and experience of the attorney are adequate to help you sail through every situation without too much stress.
Your lawyer's character also plays a more significant role in determining whether you will win the case or lose it. You can read through the client reviews to know whether the lawyer suit the position.
On the other hand, you should watch out for the fees charged by the lawyer. If you can afford, you can process the deal. Alternatively, you can consider negotiation and if it fails go for the cheaper options that meet your hiring criteria.
Ultimately, your lawyer should be able to identify the signs of human trafficking, which include;
Uncontrolled movements
False identities and travel documents
Not aware of the work address
No access of earnings
Workers not able to negotiate on the working conditions
Excessive working over long periods
Limited social interaction
Limited contact with the family and also the immediate environment