Human Trafficking

Human Trafficking is the exploitation of humans for profit, often categorized by sex and labor trafficking. It is a complex problem we face in our communities.

U.S. law defines human trafficking as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts or labor against their will. Victims of this crime include children and adults, women and men, and U.S. citizens as well as foreign born individuals.

According to the International Labor Organization, nearly 21 million people are estimated to be trafficked globally. Of those, an estimated 11.4 million women and girls, and 9.5 million men and boys are affected by this crime. Forced labor generates $150 billion a year around the world, $99 billion of which is generated from commercial sexual exploitation.

It also occurs in every city and state across the United States. Victims can be found working in the commercial sex industry (including escort services, brothels, massage parlors, strip clubs, and street prostitution) as well as in restaurants, hotels, factories, farms, landscaping companies, nail salons, constructions sites, private homes as domestic workers, and more.