LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Law enforcement and social service agencies are preparing a major push to clamp down on human trafficking in Nebraska, but advocates say the state needs to do more for survivors who are likely to require housing, specialized counseling and medical care.
The new approach championed by Attorney General Doug Peterson focuses on helping survivors, stopping traffickers and shrinking the market by going after customers rather than prostitutes. A state task force is developing a plan, and Peterson is considering legislation next year to increase criminal penalties for traffickers.
Yet Peterson and other advocates acknowledge that major changes will take time, largely because Nebraska has a shortage of services that are tailored to human trafficking victims.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed