A new bill introduced in the Tennessee General Assembly aims to enhance training for tattoo artists in the state with a focus on combating human trafficking. The proposed legislation, known as the Ink of Hope Act, would require tattoo artists to undergo training on identifying and reporting signs of human trafficking before they can practice in Tennessee.
The bill comes in response to alarming statistics from anti-trafficking organizations, which report that nearly half of all trafficking victims are branded with tattoos by their traffickers. According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), over 1,300 cases of human trafficking were reported in the state between 2019 and 2023.
If passed, the legislation would mandate up to one hour of training, available online or in-person at no cost to the applicants. The goal is to equip tattoo professionals with the tools necessary to recognize tattoos that may signal a victim of trafficking.
Captain Devious, owner of The Sailor’s Den Tattoo Shop, has voiced support for the bill and offers free tattoo removal for trafficking victims who have been branded. He believes that the initiative is a crucial step in addressing this serious issue.
Camila Zolfaghari, vice president of government affairs at anti-human trafficking organization Street Grace, also highlighted the importance of the bill. She recalled a case in which a 15-year-old girl was tattooed with the words “cash only” on her lower back. Zolfaghari emphasized that such tattoos are often used to control and mark trafficking victims.
Devious also suggested that the scope of the training should extend beyond the tattoo industry to all sectors, so that individuals in other fields can identify and report signs of trafficking.
Booker Youngblutt, a tattoo artist at Standard Ink, expressed his support for the proposed training initiative. He also referenced a national study which suggests that official trafficking statistics might represent as little as 14% of the actual total number of trafficking victims.
If enacted, the Ink of Hope Act would be an important step toward raising awareness and providing additional tools for tattoo artists to help combat human trafficking in Tennessee.
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