Capital District Times

Assembly Minority Task Force on Human Trafficking co-chairs Assemblyman Brian Maher and Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh, along with host Assemblyman Scott Bendett, convened experts and officials to address human trafficking in the Capital Region. Assemblyman Matt Simpson also attended the meeting.

The difficulty of quantifying human trafficking cases was highlighted by recent reports. The New York State Interagency Task Force's 2022 Report, published this year, confirmed 249 cases. Meanwhile, the National Human Trafficking Hotline reported 467 cases involving 622 victims, most of whom were sex trafficked.

Maher emphasized the silent nature of these crimes: “Human trafficking is a crime with so many silent victims who are lost with little hope. For the hundreds who are identified in our state annually, how many more remain undiscovered?” He stressed that insights from experts would aid in developing legislation and policies to help more people.

Walsh noted the impact on local communities: “Human trafficking is a critical concern impacting our local communities, including the Capital Region.” She pointed out her role as a child advocate and member of relevant committees as crucial for understanding challenges faced. She mentioned collaborating with local organizations like the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office to enhance support systems.

Bendett described human trafficking as a brutal crime occurring within the state: “This regional task force meeting is about taking real, decisive action against those who exploit the vulnerable.” He thanked participants for their testimonies and emphasized bringing traffickers to justice.

Simpson called human trafficking a grave violation of human rights: “Today’s roundtable was about finding real solutions and making our communities safer.” He expressed gratitude towards law enforcement and service providers present at the event.

Stakeholders included Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly, Washington County District Attorney Tony Jordan, Columbia County Sheriff Donald Krapf, Captain Kevin Herrick from Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, Jennifer Buckley from Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit, representatives from social services departments in Rensselaer and Columbia counties, forensic examiner nurses from St. Peter’s Health Partners and Glens Falls Hospital, YWCA of Northeastern New York members, Unity House in Troy staffers, CAPTAIN Community Human representatives, WAIT House members and START Children’s Center Inc.

The task force extended thanks to its venue partner Rensselaer County Legislature for hosting this discussion. Previous meetings took place in Suffolk and Nassau counties in July. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for Western New York on October 8th; Central New York on October 11th; Hudson Valley on October 16th; and New York City on October 17th.