Big Sky Times

Apr 18 2024

BOZEMAN – Attorney General Austin Knudsen, accompanied by over 100 participants including law enforcement officials, criminal prosecutors, advocacy groups, public health officials, and private industry leaders, convened in Bozeman today to address the ongoing battle against human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation in Montana. The gathering marked the fourth anti-human trafficking symposium hosted by Attorney General Knudsen, focusing on key strategies to combat the issue.

"Human trafficking is modern day slavery, and I remain committed to doing everything I can to end it in Montana," Knudsen emphasized during the symposium. Reflecting on the collaborative efforts, he added, "I’m proud of what we’ve done at the Montana Department of Justice to fight human trafficking over the last three years, but we won’t solve this problem alone."

The event covered three main themes: law enforcement and prosecution, victim services and long-term care, and emerging threats. Participants engaged in a case study exercise tailored to their roles in combating human trafficking, holding traffickers accountable, and supporting survivors.

Attorney General Knudsen's proactive stance on human trafficking has yielded significant results, with reported cases more than doubling since 2021. In 2023 alone, Department of Justice agents recorded 147 human trafficking cases in Montana, marking a 39 percent increase from the previous year and a substantial rise from just seven cases reported in 2015.

One impactful legislative development spearheaded by Attorney General Knudsen was the passage of House Bill 112 during the 2023 session. The bill, a product of discussions at previous symposiums, enhances penalties for sex traffickers and patrons of sex trafficking, equipping prosecutors with additional tools to combat the crime effectively.

Furthermore, Knudsen's advocacy efforts led to the addition of two new human trafficking agents in the state, increasing the investigative capacity from two to four agents. The Attorney General also prioritized human trafficking training for various entities, including county attorneys, Montana Highway Patrol Troopers, and law enforcement cadets at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy.

In his dedication to combatting human trafficking, Knudsen played a pivotal role in launching the Sentinel Project, a collaborative initiative between the Montana Department of Justice and non-governmental organizations aimed at enhancing training and public awareness on human trafficking in the state.

The symposium underscored the importance of collective action in eradicating human trafficking, emphasizing the critical role of collaboration between government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and community members.