Derby week brings heightened alert for sex trafficking at Louisville hospitals

All eyes are on Louisville this week- both for the big race- and for the risks that come with it.

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Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to flood Louisville this week for Kentucky Derby festivities- and while most will come for the races, the parties, and the pageantry, local health officials are warning that the surge in population creates something else: opportunity for exploitation.

UofL Health says its SAFE (Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner) and SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) teams are on heightened alert, watching for signs that patients who walk through their doors may be victims of sex trafficking or other forms of abuse.

"It's like with any area that you overpopulate," said Vicki Yazel, Director of SAFE/SANE Services at UofL Health. "When you have hundreds of thousands of people come into the city like we do during this time, it is going to increase the opportunity for victimization."

The program operates 24/7 out of UofL Hospital and serves victims of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, domestic violence, family violence, human trafficking, and child sexual abuse. Nurse examiners collect and preserve evidence, document injuries, and can testify in legal proceedings.

Yazel says her team uses a formal screening tool developed specifically for human trafficking- and there are telltale red flags they're trained to spot. Physical injuries, particularly around the head, face, neck, arms, and wrists, are one indicator. So is a companion who refuses to let the patient speak for themselves.

"If they are not making eye contact, if they look like they have been physically harmed… if they have a companion with them that will not let them speak, if they are ESL and the companion is aggressive about interpreting for them- those are big red flags," Yazel said.

Other warning signs include signs of malnourishment, poor hygiene, and what Yazel described as "branding"- tattoos or markings that raise concern.

One of the most significant indicators, she says, is age.

"A big one we see in Louisville is that the patient appears to be younger than what they're telling us," Yazel said. "The average age to enter into sex trafficking is 12 to 14, and typically they will lie about their age."

According to experts, 87% of sex trafficking victims are under age 25, and 72% are women or girls. But experts emphasize that victims can be anyone- regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background.

For patients who come in reporting sexual assault, a SANE nurse is called and the patient is taken to a private exam room. From there, they're given options: a forensic medical exam, the opportunity to report to law enforcement, a connection with the Center for Women and Families, and medications to treat potential STIs.

UofL Health also screens every patient who comes into the hospital for domestic violence- every visit, no exceptions.

"We are asking every patient every time: has anyone hurt you in your household? Are you afraid of a previous relationship? Have you been hit, kicked, punched, or strangled in the last year?" Yazel explained. "When we ask those questions, it gives them the opportunity to say yes- that's why I'm here."

For people out and about in Louisville this week, Yazel has simple advice: stay in groups, stay aware, and say something if something feels off.

"Keep your head on a swivel," she said. "If you see somebody that appears to be younger with someone quite a bit older and it looks like they're not in a great situation- alert law enforcement."

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