HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday has joined 40 other Attorneys General in urging the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to allow law enforcement direct access to tips reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
The hotline, reachable at 888-373-7888 or by texting INFO to 233733, is a critical tool for reporting suspected human trafficking. Operated since 2007 by Polaris with federal funding, the hotline collects valuable information from bystanders, victims, and witnesses. However, Polaris has been criticized for limiting law enforcement access to third-party tips about suspected adult trafficking victims, sharing them only in specific circumstances while often delaying their transmission by months.
The bipartisan coalition of Attorneys General, spanning 41 states and territories, emphasized that broader access to these tips could significantly enhance efforts to prosecute traffickers and assist victims. “At a time when law enforcement is working in unity with the community to bring human trafficking out of the shadows, access to these tips could lead to more charges against traffickers – and more help for victims and survivors, who rarely escape on their own,” said Attorney General Sunday.
While the coalition seeks access to third-party tips, it clarified that tips directly provided by victims or survivors who wish to avoid law enforcement contact would remain confidential.
The letter to HHS comes as the department considers awarding a grant to a new operator for the hotline program. The Attorneys General called for policy changes to ensure tips are promptly shared with state agencies to strengthen anti-trafficking efforts.
States and territories represented in the letter include California, Florida, New York, Texas, and others, with leadership from top legal officials in Mississippi, Delaware, Louisiana, and Nevada. The call reflects a unified dedication to combating human trafficking and improving collaboration between federal and state entities.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.