Human Trafficking front and center at Lake Travis ISD
In Lake Travis ISD, families were invited to an informational meeting to discuss Human Trafficking on Thursday.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Human Trafficking cases have risen over the years according to data from the United States Bureau of Justice Statistics.
A total of 2,198 persons were referred to U.S. Attorneys for human trafficking offenses in fiscal year 2020, a 62% increase from the 1,360 persons referred in 2011, according to the United States Bureau of Justice Statistics.
In Lake Travis Independent School District, families were invited to an informational meeting to discuss Human Trafficking on Thursday.
The event was meant to inform parents, students and teachers about the dangers of human trafficking, which included what to watch out for and how you can protect yourself from becoming a victim.
"There are more female traffickers now than we have ever had documented before," said Kara McLeod, victim assistant coordinator with the Lakeway and Bee Cave Police Department.
McLeod spent Thursday evening talking to parents and teachers about human trafficking. She said education is key in addressing this problem.
"Trafficking impacts every community, every city, every state," she said. "There is an estimated 20 to 40 million people worldwide being trafficked."
One of the talking points was how traffickers are finding their victims.
"A lot of the child-involved cases have to do with social media, they meet somebody online," McLeod said.
She said parents need to keep a close eye on what their kids are doing online and while gaming.
January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.