The Process of Conducting a Labor Trafficking Assessment in Nebraska

• In Event: Innovations in Human Trafficking Research—Part 3: A Focus on Labor Trafficking

Abstract

The issue of labor trafficking and its impact on society presents a concern for public health that requires a response. Due to limited research, however, relatively little is known about these offenses, including details on the victims who are harmed and those who facilitate these crimes. The current study seeks to address this gap by conducting an assessment of labor trafficking in Nebraska by interviewing stakeholders, providers, and survivors. The project builds on extant research and uses a multi-phased approach to inform the following research objectives: (1) what is the nature of labor trafficking in the state; (2) what are the challenges of law enforcement and legal actors when investigating these crimes; and (3) what are the challenges of service providers when responding to survivors. This presentation outlines the process of developing this ongoing study by providing an overview of the multi-phased approach, outlines the phases that have been completed, and discusses lessons learned for future research.

Authors

• Valeria Torres-Rivera, University of Nebraska Omaha

• Teresa C. Kulig, University of Nebraska Omaha

• Sadaf Hashimi, University of Nebraska Omaha

• Kaitlyn Swanberg, University of Nebraska Omaha

• Morgan Goslar, University of Nebraska Omaha