A task force put together by Homeland Security will publicly announce the results of a recent push to interupt human trafficking during Mardi Gras in New Orleans tomorrow afternoon.
NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson and representatives from several federal, state and local law enforcement agencies will hold a press briefing at Police Headquarters.
According to WWL-TV, Louisiana has seen a steady increase in human trafficking over the years.
The findings by State Auditor Daryl Purpera’s office say Louisiana does coordinate the aid offered to victims of human trafficking and is not doing enough to track efforts to stem the tide of human trafficking.
One issue cited in the State Auditor's report is a lack of sufficent mental health beds for trafficking victims, does not have a consistant source of funding to help victims or underwrite law enforcment activities to stop trafficking.
Pupuera's office also says the state is too dependent on federal grants to pay for anti-trafficking efforts.
The report concludes the state could improve anti-trafficking interdiction by providing prosecutorial immunity for trafficked youth and criminal record relief for adult victims, as other states do.
It also states Louisiana is too focused in its efforts on to stop sex trafficking, with not enough attention paid to the problem of labor trafficking and efforts to address it are lacking.
Tomorrow's meeting will start at 1:30pm in the 5th floor conference room at NOPD headquarters 715 Broad Street.
Read the Auditor's report: Click Here.
