THE ROLE OF THE INSIDER

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is a topic that people don't talk much about,
which is the role of insider perpetrators and trafficking networks.
Most people, when they think of human trafficking think of
shadowy criminals operating in dark corners, but in many cases,
the most dangerous trackers are those already inside what we
call the circle of trust. Teachers, coaches, religious leaders, and
even family members. These insider perpetrators play a critical role

(00:23):
in trafficking networks, using their position of course, for authority
and credibility to recruit, manipulate, and exploit. Insiders have unrestricted
access to vulnerable individuals, particularly children and adolescents. They groom
these victims slowly over time, using attention gifts, emotional bonding,
and they target individuals that they know are vulnerable to this,

(00:43):
individuals that are having problems at home, struggling with maybe
bullying or marginalization. Their trust these perpetrators within the community
serves as both a shield and a weapon, shielding them
from suspicion and enabling them to isolate victims from those
who might intervene. Understanding and identifying insider perpetry requires a
careful look at behavioral crees and patterns. These may include

(01:04):
inappropriate boundary crossing under the guise of mentorship, so also
excessive control over a child's time or communication, or even
excessive interest in the child offering financial favors that create dependency.
Insiders may also discourage outside relationships, try to isolate the individual,
and attempt to monopolize the victims. Trust communities can improve

(01:26):
detection through community intelligence, paying attention to patterns of behavior, shifts, rumors,
or shifts in a child's demeanor, school personnel, social workers,
faith based organizations. Parents must be trained to look beyond
appearances and report even subtle concerns, and overly involved teacher
or coach who isolates a child under the pretense of
extra help may also warrant a closer look. And I

(01:48):
hate to be the person that's that's suspicious and paranoid,
as some may claim. But you don't want to make
this mistake, so you want to be overly cautious, as
the old saying goes, Trust but verify