Austin News

The Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Coordination Council Strategic Plan, put together by Attorney General Ken Paxton's office, breaks down recommendations and obstacles from respondents that will help Texas combat human trafficking.

The Coordination Council sent out a survey and individuals who completed it gave feedback in the form of recommendations to the council on human trafficking. 

The plan puts the recommendations into seven categories: Improve Texas' fight against human trafficking, coordination of state efforts, obstacles, issues and concerns against the human trafficking fight, top requests for state support, gaps in resources, strategies to reduce the demand and suggestions for other programs, the Strategic Plan states. 

Survey respondents suggest to the council that Texas should improve its fight against human trafficking. One way Texas can do this is by getting the word out to the public, which can be done in multiple ways. 

Respondents told the committee to "increase public awareness with consistent messaging," the plan states. This can be done by promoting programs and services, increasing funding for strategies, promoting victim centered criminal justice and providing free evidence-based training. 

Other ways to improve the fight against human trafficking are by expanding resources and using the voices of survivors for support. 

Respondents also encouraged increased communication to help increase coordination efforts across the state, the plan said. This can be done through partnering with multiple different organizations and creating task forces.

But the fight against human trafficking will come with many obstacles, including border control, lack of funding, lack of public awareness and many other issues. Through coordination with other organizations, creating funds and raising public awareness, many of these obstacles can be dealt with. 

The state does have some resources to fight human trafficking, however, gaps do exist in the resources, such as funding gaps and support for victims. To better fight human trafficking, these gaps should be dealt with. 

The council can also make requests to help fight these obstacles and fill these gaps from the state.

There can also be increased penalties to prevent buyers and traffickers from participating in human trafficking, the plan states. Other ways to reduce the amount of human trafficking occurring are implementing more law enforcement and spreading awareness. 

Survey respondents also encouraged more programs and services be implemented to help with mental health, housing placement for victims, law enforcement training and transition services.