HARRISBURG – The Office of Attorney General recently presented testimony at a House Republican Policy Committee hearing about human trafficking in Pennsylvania and how Attorney General Michelle Henry’s newly-formed Human Trafficking Section will promote awareness and education across the Commonwealth.
Chief Deputy Attorney General Heather Castellino and Supervisory Special Agent Gabriel Fabian presented testimony about the new section, what the crime of trafficking looks like in real-world settings, common misconceptions, and how victims are targeted and manipulated.
“While my office has put many resources into combatting this vile conduct through investigations, prosecutions and public education, myths about what trafficking is and who is victimized by it are still pervasive and detrimental to our efforts,” Attorney General Henry said. “Debunking those myths and expanding public awareness of this crime will make it harder for traffickers to operate.”
You can watch the full testimony here.
In January 2024, Attorney General Henry announced the first ever Human Trafficking Section to bolster statewide efforts to investigate and prosecute human trafficking cases and facilitate assistance for victims. The Office of Attorney General has prosecuted some of the most significant trafficking cases in the state and hopes to build a larger caseload through collaboration and other initiatives.
The focus on human trafficking is often on the traffickers themselves, but the very economy in which human traffickers thrive would not exist without the market for the human beings being trafficked. In order to combat human, and specifically sex trafficking, there must be a reduction in the demand for commercial sex. One way to target the demand for commercial sex is by prosecuting those who purchase sex. One method to effectively deter individuals from buying sex, and therefore reduce demand, would be to increase the penalties for purchasing sex.
Chief Deputy Attorney General Castellino, who oversees the new section, testified about what makes a person vulnerable to trafficking — drug dependency, homelessness, or a history of being abused are among the most common factors.
Another priority of the new Human Trafficking Section is to increase the focus of labor trafficking. While many believe that labor trafficking is something that happens in foreign countries, the truth is that it is happening here in Pennsylvania.
“Human trafficking is committed by people with utter disregard for humanity even at the most basic level,” Castellino told the Committee. “The traffickers’ belief that the sale of human beings is a valid and professional trade is appalling and indicates a callousness and cruelty that is almost unimaginable.”
Victims of human trafficking are survivors, however they need support and expanding a network of resources is another focus of the section. The Office of Attorney General continues to be dedicated to the mission of ending the scourge of human trafficking in the Commonwealth through the work of the Human Trafficking Section.
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