Human Trafficking:

What is sex trafficking?

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, defines sex trafficking (iv) as "the recruitment, harboring, transportation, providing, or obtaining of a person for a commercial sex act," and defines severe forms of sex trafficking  as a commercial sex act that is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age. 

Identifying Victims of Trafficking:

Red Flags

Is the victim…

• Accompanied by a controlling person?
• Isolated either physically or culturally?
• Transported to and from work?

Does the victim…

• Have any kind of identification?
• Have little control over his or her schedule?
• Lack concrete short or long term plans?
• Live and work in the same place?
• Show signs of physical assault including: branding, tattooing, broken bones, or other signs of abuse?
• Exhibit submissive or fearful behavior in the presence of others?
• Have inconsistencies in stories?
• Lack knowledge about a given community or whereabouts?
• Date much older, abusive, or controlling men and is a minor?

Victims of human trafficking include men, women, children, U.S. born, and foreign national, for the purposes of domestic servitude, child sex trafficking, labor trafficking, prostitution, and debt bondage. Victims can look like the people you see everyday, but being aware of these "red flag" indicators may help you to look beneath the surface and identify those living in slavery.

If you suspect an incidence of human trafficking, please call the National Hotline at 1.888.3737.888I

Domestic Sex Trafficking Victim Identifiers: Adults and Minors

·         Under 18 and in prostitution

·         Under 18 and not attending school or has numerous school absences

·         Under 18 and dating much older, abusive, or controlling men

·         Multiple people living in one house

·         Possesses False ID's and lies about age

·         Has large amounts of cash, jewelry, or new clothes

·         Has no cash, as trafficker may hold all money brought in by victim

·         Has recurrent STI's/STD's and/or need for pregnancy tests

·         Shows signs of physical assault including: broken bones, black eyes, bruising, injury, etc.

·         Shows signs of branding or tattooing of trafficker's name (often on the neck)

·         Disappears for blocks at a time; chronic runaway

·         Has inconsistencies in stories

·         Has restricted or strict communication

·         Uses or abuses substances

·         Exhibits signs of exhaustion, fear, anxiety, depression

·         Shows increase in mental health symptoms

·         Exhibits extreme weight loss

·         Possesses hotel room keys

·         Lacks knowledge about a given community or whereabouts

·         Pagers or cell phones not paid by parents or guardian

·         Inability or fear to make eye contact

Foreign-born Victim Identifiers: Adults and Minors, Labor and Sex Trafficking

·         Has no travel documents or identification

·         Multiple people living in cramped space, one house, or one restaurant

·         Has little or no pocket money; trafficker controls all victim's possessions/money

·         Has little control over schedule or work schedule

·         Lacks concrete short or long term plans

·         Lives and works in the same place

·         Shows signs of physical assault including: branding, tattooing, broken bones, or other signs of abuse

·         Exhibits submissive or fearful behavior in the presence of others

·         Has inconsistencies in stories

·         Lacks knowledge about a given community or whereabouts

·         Exhibits signs of exhaustion, fear, anxiety, depression

·         Exhibits extreme weight loss, malnutrition, poor hygiene, or signs if illness due to lack of health care

·         Is accompanied by a controlling person who answers for them

·         Cannot speak English; trafficker may act as a translator

·         Inability or fear to make eye contact

Note: These identifiers should raise red flags and can indicate a possible trafficking situation. It is important to not, however, that not all individuals displaying these signs are trafficking victims. Multiple signs and the right combination of these signs can indicate a potential trafficking situation. Many identifiers crossover and apply to both foreign-born victims and U.S. citizen victims, adults and children, and male and female victims.

Risk and Vulnerability Factors to Becoming a Victim

·         Children involved in the foster care system and child protective services

·         Children involved in juvenile justice system

·         Individuals from developing countries where opportunity and jobs are rare

·         Individuals with limited education or general lack of awareness of the issue

·         Individuals with past history of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or neglect

·         Individuals coming from impoverished backgrounds

·         All children are vulnerable; simply being a child makes one vulnerable

Where do Traffickers Recruit Child Victims?

·         Outside of schools, After-school programs

·         Outside of Juvenile Detention Centers

·         Bus Stops, Train Stations

·         Malls and Shopping Areas

·         Outside of Youth Centers, Community Centers, or where youth are known to hang out

·         Parties, Clubs, Bars, friend's houses, relative's houses

·         Internet and Social Networking Sites (e.g. Myspace)

Other Forms of Recruitment

·         Advertisements for work (e.g. cleaning, farm labor, construction)

·         Posing Modeling Recruitment Agencies; Posing Study Abroad Programs

·         Word of Mouth: By Friends, Family Members

Areas Where First Responders Can Encounter Victims

·         Hospitals & Clinics

·         HIV / AIDS Prevention & Outreach

·         Child Welfare System

·         Juvenile Justice System

·         Schools

·         Criminal Justice System

·         Churches

·         Housing Shelters

·         All Social Services

·         Ethnic and Cultural Community Centers

Other Areas where Victims can be Identified and are Forced to Work

·         Sex Trafficking

o        Massage Parlors or ethnic Spas

o        Online Escort/Erotic Services (e.g. Craigslist)

o        Modeling Studios or Lingerie Modeling Studios

o        Bars/Strip Clubs

o        Street Prostitution

o        Brothels/Cathouses

·         Labor Trafficking

o        Sweatshops

o        Agricultural Industry (farms, fields, processing plants)

o        Peddling and Begging on Street (selling trinkets, etc.)

o        Homes (as maids, nannies)

o        Construction Sites

o        Restaurant and Janitorial/Custodial work

Note: More often than not, we must look for victims. Victims may come into contact with us through various entry points as listed above, but many victims are uncovered through direct outreach to victims in these areas.