Skip to main content

NJ TRANSIT NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT LAUNCHES ANTI HUMAN-TRAFFICKING AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

NJ TRANSIT Affirms Its Commitment To Ending Human Trafficking Through A USDOT-Led Partnership With Transportation Agencies Across The Country

January 7, 2025

NEWARK, NJ –NJ TRANSIT is committed to ensuring the safety and security of its customers and the broader community by signing the US Department of Transportation’s Leaders Against Human Trafficking pledge and launching a system-wide anti human-trafficking awareness campaign.  NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett signed the pledge on behalf of the agency at a ceremony in Newark Penn Station. 

"By partnering with the USDOT and transportation agencies across the country, our collective efforts will help bring us closer to the goal of eliminating human trafficking,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett.  “As New Jersey prepares to welcome visitors from around the world for the FIFA tournaments in 2025 and 2026, NJ TRANSIT is heightening our proactive measures designed to protect both visitors and residents to ensure these events are as safe and secure as they are memorable.” 

“Too often, when someone suspects human trafficking, or is being trafficked, they don’t know how to get help,” said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “This campaign compliments an initiative my office launched last year, where posters with information on law enforcement and victim-support resources are placed in bathroom stalls. These posters target moments when a victim is likely separated from a trafficker and can get help. The NJ TRANSIT initiative being announced today further ensures that our residents and visitors are safe from exploitation and victimization.”

“Human trafficking is a horrific worldwide problem, but it occurs closer to home than many of us may realize,” said New Jersey Transit Police Chief Christopher Trucillo. “It’s an issue we take seriously and signing this pledge demonstrates our commitment to not only keeping our customers safe, but to providing resources to those in immediate need of help.”

The USDOT created the anti-trafficking pledge to help transportation agencies raise awareness of the issue and to communicate strategies to prevent trafficking. NJ TRANSIT is increasing education on this issue ahead of several anticipated high-profile events in the coming months, including the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 this summer and FIFA World Cup 2026 next summer at MetLife Stadium. This campaign is especially timely as major international events like the World Cup present increased opportunities for human trafficking amid the influx of visitors and heightened activity. 

The coordinating awareness campaign, “Human trafficking isn’t always easy to spot,” encourages NJ TRANSIT customers to report suspected incidents of trafficking, links potentially trafficked individuals with support, and educates the public about how best to intervene. This campaign is a collaboration between NJ TRANSIT, New Jersey Office of the Attorney General and the New Jersey Transit Police Department. It is a part of NJ TRANSIT's existing RIDE KIND campaign. 

 

Campaign elements will include:

  • Informative “STALLS FOR SAFETY” stickers from the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General placed inside bathroom stall doors throughout NJ TRANSIT’s system.

  • Messaging displayed on station digital monitors and on printed posters placed in vehicles, stations and on NJ TRANSIT social media pages.

  • Two specially-wrapped buses operating statewide throughout the month of January, which is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

  • The campaign will be in English and Spanish, and all website copy is auto-translatable into numerous other languages via desktop and mobile browsers.

 

The New Jersey Human Trafficking Task Force (NJHTTF), as affiliated with the Attorney General and the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), defines trafficking in persons as modern-day slavery. According to the NJHTTF brochure, "victims of human trafficking, men, women, and children, can be exploited for the purpose of commercial sexual activity, including prostitution and pornography, as well as many types of forced labor, including domestic servitude and migrant agricultural work. Traffickers lure and control their victims through the use of force, fraud, or coercion, and employ techniques such as physical and psychological abuse, false employment offers, document holding, and isolation.” 

 

NJ TRANSIT plays a vital role in the daily lives of New Jersey residents, providing a unique platform to educate and inform the public about the signs of human trafficking and the importance of vigilance. By leveraging its extensive reach throughout the state, NJ TRANSIT can help protect the most vulnerable and ensure that New Jersey remains a safe and welcoming place for everyone.

 

Through comprehensive training for NJ TRANSIT staff, public awareness campaigns, and partnerships with local, state, and national organizations, NJ TRANSIT is committed to being at the forefront of the fight against human trafficking. 

About NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 263 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 166 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.