Guest Editorial: Montanans are not for sale, those who prey on our citizens will be prosecuted

Human trafficking cases in Montana are on the rise. In 2022 Montana’s Department of Justice human trafficking investigators saw a 300% increase in cases over the prior year. Even more staggeringly, they’ve seen an 871% increase since 2015.

Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery, with unwilling victims who are coerced into slavery - and this cannot stand! This is why, with the support of MT DOJ, I introduced HB 112 during the 2023 legislative session to revise MT law in a way that provides more tools for prosecutors, while also protecting the victims exploited by this heinous crime....