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A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

On Monday morning, Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri will meet with representatives from the State Attorney’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and others with an aim toward eliminating the scourge of human trafficking. Hazouri, who was successful in a push to get a law through in 2016 (2016-130), which mandated awareness signs to be posted at […]

Les NeuhausFebruary 20, 2017

Guns, children, neglect, animal abuse, human trafficking and forced prostitution. These aren’t the beautiful, cliché, sundown-on-the-beach Florida stories, but in an attempt to raise public consciousness about these issues we at Florida Politics bring you today’s ‘DCF Files.’ *** On Monday, the Palm Beach Post published a story citing chilling figures from the Florida Department of […]

Associated PressJanuary 16, 2017

Officials say the number of human trafficking cases have increased more than 50 percent in the state from the previous year.The Florida Department of Children and Families says Florida received 1,892 reports of human trafficking. That’s a 54 percent increase from the previous year. The increase in reported allegations of human trafficking was due in […]

Staff ReportsDecember 28, 2016

Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday announced an Ocala man’s arrest for human trafficking. Ryan Gemelle Poole also faces counts of deriving support from proceeds of prostitution and using a two-way communications device to commit a felony. Bondi and Marion County Sheriff Emery Gainey said Poole’s arrest was the result of a five-month investigation. They […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 8, 2016

A new bill filed by Sen. Marco Rubio and Sen. Bob Menendez seeks to depoliticize how the State Department reports on human trafficking, while increasing congressional oversight on the enforcement of penalties. The Trafficking in Persons Report Integrity Act (TIPRIA) is intended to reform the annual Trafficking in Persons Report from State. Reuters broke the story that political […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterOctober 28, 2016

Jeanette Rubio is praising her husband’s work against human trafficking in a new campaign ad. The Marco Rubio campaign released a new advertisement Friday featuring the Miami Republican’s wife. The 30-second spot gives Jeanette Rubio a chance to highlight the Girls Count Act, which helps ensure children in developing countries are registered at birth. “Human […]

Mitch PerryJune 27, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi and state Rep. Ross Spano were among the public officials who gathered at an event in Tampa Monday that celebrated legislation passed this year to combat human trafficking in Florida over the next fiscal year. Speaking at Mary Lee’s House, a nonprofit child protection and advocacy center serving more than 100 children every […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 5, 2016

Jacksonville is determined to do whatever is necessary to help victims of sexual assault. That was the message Tuesday from three of the most powerful politicians in the city: Mayor Lenny Curry, Sheriff Mike Williams, and State Attorney Angela Corey. Jacksonville, of course, has been active in working against that scourge for a while. The Sexual Assault Advisory […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 12, 2016

Pinellas County Commissioners Tuesday passed an ordinance furthering the work of the Florida Legislature to curb human trafficking. Last year, the legislature approved a bill ultimately signed into law that gave county commissions the authority to place signs in certain locations educating the public about the labor and sex trafficking. The state law enacted in […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 4, 2016

A new year brings two new laws to Florida’s statute books. Bills passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor often go into effect immediately or on July 1, the start of the state’s fiscal year. Some, however, go into effect the first day of the next calendar year. This year, only two measures meet […]

Tag: human trafficking
Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Image via Visit Florida.

Jacksonville to redouble efforts against human trafficking

The bad, the ugly and the downright horrible — a roundup of today-in-DCF news

Human trafficking cases increase 50 percent in Florida

Pam Bondi announces human-trafficking arrest in Ocala

Marco Rubio introduces bill to combat human trafficking

Jeanette Rubio highlights husband’s support of the Girls Count Act in new ad

In Tampa, Rick Scott highlights the more than $6 million going into programs combating human trafficking in Florida

Jax leadership mobilizes against sexual assault

Pinellas County Commission expands state human trafficking initiative

Two new laws added to state’s books