Trafficking | Law Office of Ernest J. Bauer, Jr. LLC

What laws in Louisiana protect children from trafficking?

Ernest J. Bauer, Jr. — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 11:20:08 +0000

What laws in Louisiana protect children from trafficking?

Children are often exploited for child labor or begging. These numbers are not the complete list of cases of human trafficking, but they do give some indication of how many occurred. The illegal recruitment, transfer, transport, receipt, or sheltering of children under 18 years old by threats, coercion, and force or inducing fear of exploitation is known as child trafficking. There were 11,500 human trafficking cases in the United States. In 2019, Louisiana had 159 cases. This only shows the number of cases reported to the hotline via text, phone calls, emails, and tips. Many victims don’t seek help because they fear their traffickers, fear the law, or the language barrier.

Simple Burglary

Louisiana law says that La. R.S. R.S. 14:60. Simple burglary refers to the unauthorized entry of any dwelling, vehicle or watercraft or any other structure, movable and immovable, as well as any cemetery with the intent of committing a felony or any theft.

What Louisiana laws protect minors from trafficking?

Louisiana Revised Statutes SS14:46.2(A), (1)(a), Human Trafficking, state, among other things, that it is illegal for anyone to knowingly recruit or harbor, transport or provide, solicit or receive, isolate or entice or obtain the use of another person via fraud, force or coercion to supply services or labor. If the trafficking is committed by a minor, the offender may be sentenced to a maximum of $25,000 in fines and not more than five years imprisonment with hard labor. The sentence does not include any suspensions, probation, or parole.

LA Rev Stat SS14:46.3 also makes it illegal to traffic children for sexual purposes. This law is:

A person who knowingly harbors or transports, sells, or procures, buys or sells, receives or obtains, entices or isolates an individual under 18 years old to engage in commercial sexual activity or knowingly benefits from such prohibited activities shall be punished.
Legal guardians, Parents, and any other person who has custody of minors are prohibited from consenting or knowingly allowing them to engage in any activity prohibited by this section.
Any person guilty of knowingly aiding, abetting, or conspiring in such activities shall be punished by law. This applies regardless of whether they were promised something of value.
A person found to have knowingly promoted any prohibited activities under this Section shall be prosecuted according to law.
A person who sells or offers to sell travel services that facilitate or include the above activities will be prosecuted.

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How can you identify potential trafficking dangers?

Trafficking in people, particularly children, is primarily a covert crime. The United Nations Office on Crime and Drugs has developed a number of key indicators to help you identify potential endangerment so you can inform law enforcement as quickly as possible. These indicators are:

Signs of physical abuse or looking injured
Appearing malnourished
Responding in a scripted or rehearsed manner
Avoid eye contact and social interaction
How to avoid law enforcement
Not having personal possessions
No personal identification documents

Although there are some positive signs that the state legislature is making progress in raising awareness about and preventing human trafficking, there is still much work.

It should be a top priority to help victims rebuild their lives and to put the perpetrators behind bars. The state should also invest in safer harbor programs that are available to all victims of trafficking. Additionally, the legislature should be more involved with institutions providing practical and psychological support for the victims.

CALL US TODAY

For a free initial phone consultation with an experienced Louisiana attorney, call me today at 504-610-5645, or fill out the contact form. I return all messages promptly.

OFFICE LOCATION

1966 N Hwy 190 Suite A
Covington, LA 70433
(504) 610-5645
(844) 272-1106 (fax)

The post What laws in Louisiana protect children from trafficking? first appeared on Law Office of Ernest J. Bauer, Jr. LLC.

Why is drug trading & human trafficking flourishing?

Ernest J. Bauer, Jr. — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 07:31:51 +0000

As we all aware that drugs trading is the largest criminal business in the world, however, the second – largest criminal business is human trafficking. If you’ve heard that the illegal drug trade and human trafficking operations are working together, you may be on to something. These two industries tend to work side by side within the criminal underground, and understanding the role drugs play in enabling modern slavery is quite complex.

Human trafficking not only crosses national and international borders, but also surfaces at the street level. Local law enforcement agencies often are the first to come into contact with this covert crime. As first responders, law enforcement agencies play a critical role in identifying and responding to human trafficking cases.

The success of task forces was based on each member having something different to offer; being able to work together by getting to know, understand, and trust each other; and creating awareness of human trafficking within their own communities.

Signs of human trafficking – A person being trafficked may have unusual injuries or an illness that can’t be explained. They may not be able to talk to someone without a third person being present – so the trafficked person can’t speak openly and honestly about what’s happening to them. They can’t choose where they live, and someone else keeps their identification cards, passport, visas, etc.

People who survive a disaster may lose their homes, their possessions, or their jobs, and be vulnerable to disease or starvation. Traffickers may take advantage of these people’s desperation by promising them food and shelter, or they may simply force or threaten these vulnerable people into trafficking.

Human trafficking – It is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of humans through force, fraud, or deception, with the intention of exploiting them for profit. Men, women, and children of all ages and backgrounds can become victims of human trafficking, which transpires in every area of the world. Trafficking of illegal drugs and human trafficking often happen together. Drug traffickers may also be transporting people as another source of money.

Human traffickers may also force their victims to smuggle drugs across borders. Human traffickers can use drugs as “bait” to recruit people who have a substance use disorder. Or they can use drugs to force a victim to obey their orders, or work harder or for longer hours. Human traffickers often seek out people with substance use disorders and promise them unlimited drugs as a way to keep them under control. Addiction is a human trafficker’s most powerful tool.

Participants responded to the challenge of identifying the population from which trafficking victims are reported. Impoverished youth that become involved in the foster care system, as well as youth that come into the system through delinquent behavior, were named. Children who are placed in group homes were said to be at risk of being recruited for sex trafficking by others in the group home. Runaways were cited as one of the main avenues to victimization by traffickers. Victims were said to be from all socioeconomic backgrounds with recruitment often linked to internet and social media use.

Addiction was a major theme, with parental and victim addiction being equally problematic. Participants stated many times parents who traffic their children do so for drug money. A portion of the children trafficked were also reported to have addiction issues, which fuel their need for money to buy drugs.

Participants described a diverse, wide range of victims. Labor, trafficking victims were reported to have recovered in the hospitality industry, agricultural industry, nail salon and domestic workers. Children both in foster care and transitioning out of foster care, as well as children trafficked by their families, were discussed. Building on this situation was a discussion about drug use and addiction. Many of the families who traffic their kids were said to have addiction issues which were satisfied by money gained from trafficking of their children. Some children were described as also having addiction issues and this being the reason for their vulnerability to traffickers. The homeless population, as well as LGBTQ kids who become a part of this population because of family dynamics, were identified as potential victims.

Several adult survivors were participants and throughout the day made several suggestions from their unique perspective. Some became trafficking victims as children, some entered into prostitution as adults and eventually became trafficking victims. Law enforcement has a challenge if a child can be recovered with a trafficker but won’t disclose.

Detecting human trafficking crimes is still a big challenge to federal investigators and prosecutors. Organized crime groups that are involved in sex trafficking activities use many complicated techniques to keep themselves concealed and safe from law enforcement as well as dangerous buyers.

CALL US TODAY

For a free initial phone consultation with an experienced Louisiana attorney, call me today at 504-610-5645, or fill out the contact form. I return all messages promptly.

OFFICE LOCATION

1966 N Hwy 190 Suite A
Covington, LA 70433
(504) 610-5645
(844) 272-1106 (fax)

The post Why is drug trading & human trafficking flourishing? first appeared on Law Office of Ernest J. Bauer, Jr. LLC.

Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer for Drug Trafficking

Ernest J. Bauer, Jr. — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 07:17:38 +0000

Drug trafficking, is the possession or otherwise transportation of any illegal substance with the intent to distribute or sell. A drug trafficking charge is a nightmare that can bear severe long – term consequences for the accused. Therefore you need to stop the charges from harming your life and family immediately. Being hit with a drug trafficking charge can be a bit disorienting, and it’s only natural to have more questions than answers when you first hear the news.

When you’re facing drug trafficking charges, you may think everything is an open and shut case. The police and prosecution may want to make you feel like your fate is sealed, but many factors could affect your case. When these things can have a significant impact on your case, then this is incredibly difficult to prove if you don’t have the right legal representation on your side. The right lawyer can help ensure that the government and the police aren’t infringing on your rights. They’ll know the ins and outs of the law and will fight to ensure you’re treated fairly.

First of all, you should know your rights before and during your arrest. In understanding your rights, you will avoid communicating and incriminating information to law enforcement officers. For instance, you have the right to remain silent.

During your arrest, you don’t need to answer all the questions the officers ask you. If you find the questions intimidating, you can request to speak to your lawyer and remain silent until your attorney arrives to help. The officers are not allowed to search you unlawfully.

Next step is to hire a reputable and professional attorney who has experience fighting drug trafficking charges. You must hire an attorney immediately to give them maximum time to plan your defense and find ways to save you in court. Hiring a lawyer is absolutely crucial for anyone facing a drug trafficking charge. You may think you know the ins and outs of the court system and could feel confident you won’t face a conviction, but the help of a good criminal defense lawyer can do wonders for your case. After seeing all of the ways a lawyer could benefit you, you’ll be ready to find the representation you need.

Law enforcement reports an increase in Asian gang activity in Louisiana, especially in the southern part of the state. Asian gangs have used the growing Asian population to cover their illegal activities, the most profitable of which is drug distribution.

You should work in earnest to gather all evidence for your defense as soon as possible. This is because evidence gets lost or destroyed over time, leaving you without the relevant proof that you need to prove your innocence of any charges levied against you.

After you’ve gathered all the evidence you’ll need in court, you and your attorneys now need to build a strong defense. Before heading to the courtroom, your defense lawyer will arrange for any witnesses to call to the stand, sort through the evidence to present in court, and inform you of your plea.

The job of the prosecutor is to prove their case against you beyond any reasonable doubt. Your defense lawyer may argue that the prosecution failed to verify your guilt adequately. For instance, they might say that the police officers illegally searched your property, noting that there wasn’t probable cause for search.

Drug trafficking charges are severe. If the court changes the nature of the charges to a lesser charge before they resolve, you will get penalized for the lesser charges. For instance, if you were charged with drug trafficking and the court amends the charges to possession, the prosecution can reduce the charges to possession if your attorney negotiates well.

A good lawyer doesn’t just help clients to fight their cases and prepare for court. They’re think about the best way to help clients and their families if a conviction happens. Drug trafficking charges can sit heavy on anyone, and you may not know what to do if faced with them. If you or anyone you know faces potential jail time due to drug trafficking charges, you must seek a reputable criminal defense attorney. We help you secure your future by assessing every possible legal avenue. We are passionate about defense and have the experience to back it up.

CALL US TODAY

For a free initial phone consultation with an experienced Louisiana attorney, call me today at 504-610-5645, or fill out the contact form. I return all messages promptly.

OFFICE LOCATION

1966 N Hwy 190 Suite A
Covington, LA 70433
(504) 610-5645
(844) 272-1106 (fax)

The post Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer for Drug Trafficking first appeared on Law Office of Ernest J. Bauer, Jr. LLC.