Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is a horrible crime that continues to exist in Maryland and affects all parts of the State. Three major airports, inexpensive bus transportation, train service along the east coast, large sporting events and disposable income makes Maryland an attractive destination for traffickers.
The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services coordinates human trafficking efforts across the State by (1) the coordination of state agency policies and protocols to combat human trafficking, (2) developing and delivering training to state and local law enforcement and government personnel, (3) establishing and implementing data collection to capture the nature and scope of human trafficking in Maryland and (4) coordinating with resources and organizations engaged in these efforts, including the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force.
If you see someone in immediate danger, call 911.Regional Navigator Program
The Child Sex Trafficking Screening and Services Act of 2019 established the Child Sex Trafficking Screening and Services Act Regional Navigator Program (RNPG). The primary purpose of this program is to develop a network of regional navigators to coordinate and/or provide identified or confirmed child sex trafficking victims with specific services, as outlined in the Act. It also requires law enforcement and local departments of social services, who have reason to believe a certain child is a victim of sex trafficking, to notify a regional navigator in their jurisdiction to obtain needed services for the child. There are currently 10 sites operating in the State. To contact a regional navigator in one of these jurisdictions, please refer to the list below:
- Allegany County: Jane’s Place, Allegany County State’s Attorney’s Office
- Anne Arundel: Jasmine Mayo, Everstand, jmayo@everstand.org
- Baltimore City: Mariam Imohi, Center for Hope-Baltimore Child Abuse Center, mimohi@lifebridgehealth.org
- Baltimore County: Stephanie Gonzales, TurnAround, Inc., sgonzalez@turnaroundinc.org
- Calvert County: Nicole Czarnik, Center for Children, Inc., nczarnik@center-for-children.org
- Caroline: Beth Anne Langrell, For All Seasons, blangrell@forallseasonsinc.org
- Carroll: Melinda Boyer, CARE Healing Center, mboyer@carehealingcenter.org
- Cecil: Erica Fielder, Cecil County Department of Community Services, efielder@ccgov.org
- Charles: Nicole Czarnik, Center for Children, Inc., nczarnik@center-for-children.org
- Dorchester County: Susan Ahlstrom, For All Seasons, sahlstrom@forallseasonsinc.org
- Frederick: Jennifer Collins, Heartly House, JenniferC@heartlyhouse.org
- Garrett County: Heather Hanline, The DOVE Center, dovecenter@gcdovecenter.org
- Harford: Kathleen Worton, Sexual Assault/Spouse Abuse Resource Center, kworton@sarc-maryland.org
- Howard: Stephanie Gonzales, TurnAround, Inc., sgonzalez@turnaroundinc.org
- Kent: Beth Anne Langrell, For All Seasons, blangrell@forallseasonsinc.org
- Montgomery: Sophie Aron, University of Maryland SAFE Center, sophie.aron@umaryland.edu
- Prince George’s: Sophie Aron, University of Maryland SAFE Center, sophie.aron@umaryland.edu
- Queen Anne’s: Beth Anne Langrell, For All Seasons, blangrell@forallseasonsinc.org
- Somerset: Danielle Thomas, Life Crisis Center, dthomas@lifecrisiscenter.org
- St. Mary’s County: Nicole Czarnik, Center for Children, Inc., nczarnik@center-for-children.org
- Talbot: Beth Anne Langrell, For All Seasons, blangrell@forallseasonsinc.org
- Washington: Natalie Reed, Safe Place Child Advocacy Center, natalie.reed@maryland.gov
- Wicomico: Danielle Thomas, Life Crisis Center, dthomas@lifecrisiscenter.org
- Worcester: Danielle Thomas, Life Crisis Center, dthomas@lifecrisiscenter.org
For more information, please refer to University of Maryland School of Social Work’s overview of Maryland’s Child Trafficking Regional Navigator Programs.
Human Trafficking Hotel Staff Trainings
Section 15–210 of the Business Regulation Article requires innkeepers to provide training and guidance to its employees in order to accurately and promptly identify and report suspected human trafficking to the proper authorities. The following training protocols have been approved to satisfy this requirement.
- PACT, formerly ECPAT USA
Training Title: “Your Role in Preventing Human Trafficking: Recognize the Signs”
https://ecpatusa.learnworlds.com/hotel-training - BEST (Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking)
Training Title: “Inhospitable to Human Trafficking”
https://bestalliance.org/hospitality - Marriott Corporation
Training Title: “Recognize and Respond: Addressing Human Trafficking in the Hospitality Industry”
(This is available to current Marriott employees)
Resources
Contact your local law enforcement agency or the hotlines below:
- BeFree Textline
Text HELP to 233733 (BEFREE)
Confidential, 24/7 - National Human Trafficking Hotline
1-888-373-7888 (TTY: 711) - National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Websites and resource materials are accessible using the links below:
- Maryland State Police
- National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC)
- Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force (MHTTF)
- 2020 Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force Victim Services Directory
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign Resource Page
- Office for Victims of Crime Human Trafficking Task Force e-Guide
- Maryland Hospital Association Guidelines for Hospitals
- Statewide and Local Human Trafficking Task Force Directory (2020)
For additional information, please contact Marianne Camino at Marianne.Camino@maryland.gov.