Human Trafficking Resources

• Human Trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. 

• Trafficking is the practice of exploiting adults and children for use  as commodities in conditions of sexual and labor servitude. 

• Trafficking is not limited to formal work sectors. It can occur wherever there is work.

• Traffickers come from all walks of life and often know the victim

  • Traffickers 

    • Organized crime

    • Neighbors, friends, family members

    • Agricultural operations Business owner

• Recruiters

  • Recruitment takes place in locations such as: 

    • Streets 

    • Friend’s house 

    • Corner stores 

    • Malls 

    • Outside juvenile justice center while waiting to meet a probation officer 

    • Own homes 

    • SOCIAL MEDIA

• Debt Bondage

• Sex Industry

• Domestic Labor

• Agricultural Work

• Restaurant Work

• Factory Labor

• Commercial Sex Acts

• Construction

• Homelessness

• Economic vulnerability (poverty, lack of education)

• Prior childhood abuse

• The lack of a caring, supportive adult

• LGBT

• History of systems involvement (child welfare, juvenile justice)

• Disabilities

• Age (inexperience, need to belong, self-esteem issues)

The Numbers

• The number of 10- to 17-year olds involved in commercial sexual exploitation in the United States each year likely exceeds 250,000, with 60% of these victims being runaway, thrownaway or homeless youth. 

• As many as one third of teen runaway or thrownaway youth will become involved in prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home. (Congressional testimony, Ernie Allen, President, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)