The extent of the trafficking problem in Utah isn't known, largely because of the fear involved, said Susan Ritter, director of the Utah Health and Human Rights Project. Many victims have been threatened with retaliation against their families, she said.

"People come across victims who are very, very difficult to identify because people are very, very terrified, fearful of talking about their situation," she said. "There probably are a number of victims who, no matter what, are too afraid to come forward."

National advocate Ann Jordan, director of the Global Rights anti-trafficking initiative, said state laws can be an important tool to help address the issue, but she added that it's important those laws address both the victims and the perpetrators. Too many state laws address only the crime, she said.

Jordan said state intervention, if done correctly, complements efforts by federal agencies that don't have the resources to address the problem alone.

"On the federal level we worked very hard to get provisions in there that recognize victims' ability to access benefits and health, and be good witnesses, despite the fact they may be undocumented," she said. "They are victims of torture, basically."

---

E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com