Human Trafficking and Law Enforcement: Implementing a victim-based approach

Human trafficking is a global and local phenomenon that each year forces millions into lives as prostitutes, laborers, child soldiers, and domestic servants. Traffickers prey on the weak and vulnerable, targeting young victims often with promises of a better life. In September of 2005, California passed the California Trafficking Victims Protection Act that criminalizes trafficking, provides protections to victims, and creates a statewide task force on human trafficking. With the new Act, state and local law enforcement agents are required to work with trafficking victims issues such as understanding what human trafficking is, identifying and determining whether someone is a victim of human trafficking, and providing services to victims. This training seeks to:

• Provide law enforcement agents with basic resources to facilitate the identification of critical emergency situations as well as whether someone is a victim of human trafficking.
• Identify common barriers and challenges facing law enforcement regarding victim services.
• Recommend strategies and practical procedures that enable law enforcement to effectively provide services to victims.