COLUMBIA, S.C. (WPDE) — South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson unveiled the 2025 Annual Report on human trafficking at the State House Monday, which highlighted the ongoing battle against this pervasive crime.
As Chair of the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force, Wilson was joined by task force leadership and law enforcement officials from various levels to present the report’s findings.
In 2025, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) investigated 315 tips, involving over 300 potential victims, with a significant number of cases involving minors.
Investigations spanned 41 of the state’s counties, with Greenville leading at 35 cases, followed by Berkeley and Charleston with 30 each, Richland with 28, Lexington with 27, and Dorchester with 21. Only five counties reported no cases.
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While data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline was absent due to an operator transition, the report incorporated statistics from the Department of Social Services and the Department of Juvenile Justice, underscoring the various entry points for identifying minor victims.
“Human trafficking is not a challenge any single agency can solve alone,” said Wilson. “Through the leadership of the State Task Force and the dedication of our partners, South Carolina remains a model on how to best address this crime.”
A significant initiative launched in 2025 was the South Carolina Safe House Certification Program, aimed at service providers working with trafficking victims. In collaboration with the Safe House Project, the Task Force certified programs at four organizations: Doors to Freedom, the Formation Project, Jasmine Road, and Lighthouse for Life. South Carolina is the first state to mandate a statewide certification for specialized human trafficking programs, which are now listed in the Task Force’s online resource directory.
“The data continues to inform how we shape and implement statewide initiatives from specialized training and certification to public awareness and prevention education,” said Monique Garvin, Director of the Task Force.
The event was attended by SLED Chief Mark Keel, State Task Force Subcommittee Chairs, regional task force chairs, nonprofit leaders, and other anti-human trafficking advocates.
For more information, the annual report is available on the State Task Force website at humantrafficking.scag.gov.
To report incidents or seek victim services, individuals can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888, which operates confidentially 24/7.
