Montana hotline relaunch adds online human trafficking reports

HELENA, Mont. — The state of Montana relaunched its human trafficking hotline and added new online reporting tools meant to speed up how tips reach investigators, Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced in a release.

The platform gives the Montana Department of Justice Human Trafficking Unit real-time access to reports and helps agents respond faster when Montanans file reports through Simply Report or in its mobile app. They can still call 1-833-406-STOP.

The new system was developed by Safe House Project, which operates the platform, Knudsen said.

Users can report anonymously and do not have to share their identity or location.

“For too long in Montana, human trafficking flew under the radar and was regarded as a crime that only happens in larger cities across the country. We’re finally changing that narrative. Over the last five years, we’ve made it a priority at the Montana Department of Justice to raise awareness on the dangers of human trafficking, bring survivors home and hold traffickers and patrons of sex trafficking accountable. I look forward to working with Simply Report as their platform will provide a more efficient way for Montanans to report trafficking and improve law enforcement response times so we can end human trafficking in Montana. I’m very grateful for their investment in our state,” Knudsen said.

The AI-assisted tool initially reviews reports and gathers details right away. Knudsen said that could help identify high-priority tips and support decisions about what steps officers should take next.

Safe House Project CEO and co-founder Kristi Wells said the tool was designed for people who may notice warning signs but are not sure what they are seeing.

“Attorney General Knudsen has made it clear that Montana will not tolerate trafficking — and now he’s given his state the tools to prove it. Simply Report removes the barrier that stops most people from acting on what they see. You don’t have to be certain. You have to be concerned. The system vets the information, gets it to the right law enforcement partners and when a victim is identified, our team is there to help them get to safety and access care. That intelligence also builds prosecutable cases against traffickers and buyers. Victim-centered response and criminal accountability aren’t in tension — they’re the same system working the way it’s supposed to. Montana is leading the way,” Wells said.

The hotline first launched in 2019 through The LifeGuard Group. The organization handled 637 calls, texts and live chats before the number was transferred to the Montana Department of Justice, according to the state.

“From the very beginning, our vision was not just to start a hotline, but to stand it up, demonstrate the very real need for it across Montana and ultimately help transition it to a more permanent, sustainable home where it could continue to grow and evolve. We have always believed this work required long-term infrastructure and statewide support,” LifeGuard Group CEO and co-founder Lowell Hochhalter said. “We are deeply grateful for the role we’ve been able to play in laying that foundation, and we fully support the Attorney General’s efforts to expand reporting tools, improve response capabilities and strengthen Montana’s fight against human trafficking. It is our hope that what was built over these past six years will continue to serve as a strong foundation for what comes next. We are excited to see these new tools and resources in action and support it wholeheartedly.”

The state said agents worked 64 human trafficking-related cases in 2025 and opened 21 investigations that had been or would be submitted for prosecution. Those cases included 11 sex trafficking cases, six labor trafficking cases, two human smuggling cases and two illicit massage business cases, Knudsen added.

Montanans can text 1-833-406-STOP, and they can also file reports through Simply Report or in its mobile app.