St. Joseph County considers new regulations for massage businesses to combat human trafficking

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- St. Joseph County leaders are taking new steps to curb human trafficking through tighter regulations on massage businesses.

A proposed ordinance, brought forward by the St. Joseph County Department of Health, is now under committee review. If passed, it would increase oversight of massage establishments in an effort to better protect public health and safety.

The push for reform follows a 2022 investigation in which local law enforcement raided four massage parlors in the county on suspicion of human trafficking. Authorities discovered that several women were living at the business full-time. Investigators later confirmed that some of them were being held and forced to work against their will.

The new ordinance would prohibit anyone from residing within a massage business and require that human trafficking awareness posters be displayed in multiple languages, including contact information for a 24-hour hotline.

It would also give county health inspectors the authority to conduct unannounced inspections during normal business hours. All massage establishments would be required to obtain and regularly renew a license to operate.

Businesses found in violation of the ordinance could face penalties ranging from temporary closures to criminal charges, especially in cases of repeat offenses.

The Health and Human Services Committee is expected to review the proposal during the County Council’s committee meeting on Oct. 28. A second reading before the full council would follow before the ordinance could be formally adopted.