Human Trafficking
The Salvation Army's Network of Emergency Trafficking Program works in collaboration with local law enforcement, FBI, ICE, and numerous community providers to identify, rescue, and restore victims of all forms of human trafficking. We work with both foreign and domestic victims of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. Through our comprehensive case management services we can provide shelter, transportation, clothing, food, victim advocacy, crisis intervention and safety planning, medical and dental services, derivative family member benefits, mental health counseling, employment assistance, legal, translation, job development, repatriation, social service benefits, substance abuse treatment, access to child care, and referrals for other services. We take a holistic approach by looking at all of the client's needs, help them to overcome barriers, and move from victimization to self-sufficiency.
Human Trafficking 101
Human Trafficking is modern day slavery in which the victim, through force, fraud, and/or coercion is induced to perform some type of labor. Trafficking of humans is the second largest criminal industry in the world, after drug dealing, and is the fastest growing. In 2006, the U.S. State Department estimated that there were between 600,000 and 800,000 persons trafficked across international boarders each year. This did not take into account those who are trafficked domestically within the United States.
There are two types of trafficking: sex trafficking and labor trafficking. In sex trafficking, a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age. By this definition, that means anyone under the age of 18 in the commercial sex industry is considered a victim of human trafficking. Labor trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion, for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage or slavery. Note that the definition of human trafficking does not require the person to be moved across state or international boarders. A youth in Nevada induced into dancing in a strip club in Nevada would be considered a victim of human trafficking.
Forms of Trafficking
| Sex Trafficking | Labor Trafficking |
| Prostitution | Farming/Agricultural Work |
| Pornography | Landscaping/Construction |
| Exotic Dancing/Stripping | Hotel or Tourist Industries |
| Escort Services | Janitorial Services |
| Modeling Studios | Restaurant/Cook/Waitresses |
| Factory Workers/Sweatshops | |
| Domestic Servitude | |
| Entertainment | |
| Peddling/Panhandling |
You can help to identify victims by asking:
- Is the person accompanied by another person who seems controlling (possibly the trafficker)?
- Is the person rarely allowed in public (except for work)?
- Can you detect any physical or psychological abuse?
- Does the person seem submissive or fearful?
- Does the person have difficulty communicating because of language or cultural barriers?
- Does the person lack identification or documentation?
- Is someone else collecting the person's pay or holding their money for "safe keeping"?
Before questioning a person who may be a victim of human trafficking, discretely separate the person from the individual accompanying her/him, since this person could be a trafficker.
If you believe you have identified a victim of human trafficking please contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-3737-888. They provide translation and assistance 24 hours, 7 days a week. If they determine that a victim has been identified, they will contact the appropriate law enforcement and victim service agency in the area.