The Virginia Office of the Attorney General, Jason S. Miyares, hosted a human trafficking summit in Richmond, VA in August 2024 that Dr. Ricks was honored to be invited to attend. Human trafficking is defined by the Blue Campaign as:
sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age; or
the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services through the force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.
The State of Virginia has organizations across the State that are very serious about the eradication of this behavior. The primary way to address the concern is to ensure the public is educated. If one does not know a behavior is wrong and against the law, how would they be expected to address it? Now, with this information being made available far and wide, it is time to do something about this.
If you see, hear, or suspect human trafficking behavior, it is up to you to report it. To report, contact:
1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or go to
Begin to research what your rights are if you determine you are a victim. The Virginia Crime Victim and Witness Rights office explains that victim can be entitled to:
protection and protective orders
financial assistance and social services
address and phone number confidentiality
and much more...
For more information, contact The Victim Assist Virginia Helpline:
1-888-887-3418
or the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline:
1-800-838-8238 (V/TTY)
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