SC hotels skip trafficking training; hospitals step up to spot and stop abuse

by Anna Harris

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — When it comes to recognizing, reporting and preventing human trafficking, South Carolina lacks required training and more qualified personnel in some of the most common places survivors can go: hospitals, hotels and motels.

Tri-County Human Trafficking Task Force co-chair Brooke Burris comes in contact with South Carolina human trafficking survivors on a regular basis. She says two of the top places survivors end up are in hotels and hospitals either while they’re in the middle of the crime or to seek help.

And just as of last month, all hospital staff in South Carolina became required to take training on how to recognize and prevent human trafficking. And moving forward, all medical personnel must take a one-hour virtual training course every six years.

South Carolina Victim Assistance Network statewide forensic nurse, Sabrina Gast, says this new requirement could really help their goals, which are to provide technical assistance and training for forensic nurses and healthcare providers across the state.

“It would increase awareness of those providers that are giving that care would… Give them a little more knowledge on what signs to look for, what they need to do and again, what resources are available in their area,” Gast said.

A push for more forensic nurses in hospitals

But Gast also says hospitals need to go further to best treat these survivors.

“We have a lot of areas that do not have specifically trained staff in the emergency departments to do a full forensic exam,” Gast said.

This means not every hospital has a forensic nurse. This is someone who is specifically trained to work with victims of trauma, abuse or violence. Gast says only about 20 to 25 hospitals out of the over 70 in the state have one, which could often lead to a survivor coming in and meeting with a registered nurse without that specialized training.

“So, it’s not a purposeful exam,” Gast said. “So, they’re just following the dots on the list for evidence collection. It’s traumatizing for the victim. It’s traumatizing for that nurse as well, especially if the nurse doesn’t have that extra education.”

She says trafficking victims can be anywhere.

“They don’t just necessarily show up in the emergency department,” Gast said.

Hotel and motel staff are not required to take human trafficking prevention training

Burris says hotels are often a hot spot for both sex and labor trafficking.

“We’ve had multiple cases involving hotels in North Charleston,” Burris said. ”We’re a hotbed in terms of the amount of tourism we have, the amount of money that’s here. ... And If law enforcement doesn’t have the tool set to regulate or keep a hotel environment safe, then that’s where the traffickers are going to go.”

Despite this, there’s currently no state requirement for hotels to train their staff to identify and prevent human trafficking.

One of the only optional trainings is a one-hour course with the American Hotel and Lodging Association, the largest hotel association in the country that represents major chains to bed and breakfasts.

AHLA President and CEO Kevin Carey says this organization makes it a priority.

“We created the ‘No Room for Trafficking Initiative’ in 2019," Carey said. “And the purpose was to rally the industry and to heighten awareness around training to educate our employees and our frontline associates. ... At present, 13 states have mandatory training for their staff. And our focus is going to continue to encourage that all frontline employees to participate in this training.”

Carey says for employees across the state and the country, he hopes they engage in these kinds of initiatives of their own free will.

“Where we can all focus on driving these outcomes that we believe are advancing the industry and supporting our people in the communities that we operate in,” Carey said.

Staff could still face penalties, despite state law

And Burris says a hotel or motel could bear some responsibility if human trafficking is taking place on its property.

“If a business knowingly is aware that there’s sex trafficking or labor trafficking going on their premises and they don’t take action, then they can be civilly liable,” Burris said.

And if someone leaves that hotel or motel and seeks medical care, Gast wants to make sure they are seen by the most qualified person possible.

“We would love to see forensic nurses at every facility,” Gast said.

So eventually, any survivor who comes in contact with these places can feel a little safer and its staff can prevent something before it even happens.