COLUMBIA, S.C. — With this January being recognized as human trafficking awareness month, Attorney General Alan Wilson discussed the Human Trafficking Task Force annual report for 2023.
"Almost every victim never expects to be a victim until they are a victim. Please don't assume your child is above being prayed upon or don't assume your above being prayed upon," Wilson said during Thursday afternoons press conference.
New data Thursday shows in 2023 The South Carolina law enforcement division opened 357 cases that included nearly 500 potential victims, most of which were minors.
That's up from 416 victims a year earlier.
And here in Columbia, Richland county leads the state with 43 cases.
Jennifer Mason is an anti-trafficking coordinator who works for Richland county casa…"It's manipulation, it's more of this idea of beginning with mental abuse and emotional abuse to a point where you believe that you're making that choice yourself when you're not, you're being driven into it."
Something human trafficking survivor Heather Pagán can unfortunately relate to.
"After being abused psychologically, mentally, physically and sexually for so many years… this is the thing that you settle into."... "So by the time I was 21 I didn't know that I had any other options. This was my only option."
Currently South Carolina doesn't have a lot of places to house victims once they're rescued, there's just one program currently in the state.
"In South Carolina we would love to see more treatment services available so we can give these kids and adults wrap-around treatment to get them stabilized to a point where they feel they don't need to go back," Mason said.
Attorney General Wilson wants $10 million toward that effort, and will ask lawmakers for it.
"We are obviously going to be doing that report when I go before my sub committee within the next week," he said.
Along with attempting to increase services for victims… Educating the public on what to look for is just as important according to mason.
"The age most people get into trafficking is the 12-15 age group…. Making sure they are aware of what trafficking is and what traffickers are willing to do to entice them. I think that's the biggest thing," she explained.
However, for victims to overcome their past trauma like heather, its takes more than one person…. It takes a team.
"Support is the number one way for women to get out and stay out. You have to have a rally of people that stand with you, that walk with you, that help you," heather concluded.
With survivors like Heather living to tell the tale of her past as a victim of human trafficking…. She wants to echo to any victim that hope and support is how she persevered through her experiences.
For those needing help or anyone who is suspicious of trafficking please contact the confidential national human trafficking hotline at 888-373-7888.