COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has announced the establishment of the state’s first Human Trafficking Hotline during the fifth annual Human Trafficking Summit held in downtown Columbus.
“It’s simple: the more we know, the more we can do to help,” Yost said at the summit. “We need to keep pushing these efforts forward so that, every day, those who buy sex or compel another’s labor know that we’re coming for them.”
The hotline, set to launch later in 2024, will provide a dedicated channel for the public to report suspected cases of sex and labor trafficking. The hotline number, 844-END-OHHT (844-363-6448), will direct incoming tips straight to law enforcement agencies for immediate action.
In addition to the hotline, the Attorney General’s office released a “Human Trafficking 101” guide in May, designed to aid local communities in combating human trafficking.
Yost, along with members of his Ambassador Advisory Council to the Human Trafficking Commission, also testified in support of new legislation in May. The legislation, which was signed into law in July, allows trafficking survivors to clear certain offenses from their criminal records, facilitating better access to employment, housing, and other essential services as they recover.
