JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — Gov. Phil Bryant has created a task force to recommend ways to strengthen efforts in Mississippi to combat human trafficking.
Bryant says in a news release Tuesday that he expects to receive the task force’s recommendations by July 1, 2015.
State officials say human trafficking is forced labor. It can involve people who are made to work under pressure and against their will in sex jobs in prostitution or pornography or in other fields such as manufacturing, farming, construction, janitorial services or restaurant work.
Bryant says the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security will be the lead agency for the task force.
The task force will include lawmakers, the attorney general’s office, corrections officials, judges and prosecutors and representatives of various state agencies and the private sector. Bryant will appoint members.
