Page 24 - Michael Tupper News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Contributing Writer January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Human trafficking has existed in one form or another since the beginning of time. It is a devastating crime that exists in the shadows of society. This is a vastly under reported crime and a crime which is as difficult to investigate as it can be to detect. Every year, millions of men, women and children are trafficked around the world, including the United States. Human trafficking is unfortunately a profitable criminal enterprise generating billions of dollars in profit off the backs of vulnerable people. Human trafficking is...

Jan 1, 2021 The Cleveland County Courthouse experienced a decrease in the total number of cases conducted in 2020 in a shift most likely related to COVID-19, according to District Judge Thad Balkman. According to statistics gathered by Balkman, the total number of cases judges saw in 2020 was 23,116. Compared to 28,259 cases in 2019, that’s a difference of 5,143, or 18.2%. Small claims were down 39.4% from 6,699 to 4,061; protective orders were down 11.1% from 883 to 785; and guardianships were down 14.4% from 396 to 339. Additionally, the statistics showed about 100 fewer felony filings...