Validation of the Human Trafficking Screening Tool in Law Enforcement Settings

• In Event: Applied Research in Victim Services and Perpetrator Programs: Human Trafficking, APIPs, and Victim Hotlines

Abstract

The Urban Institute is conducting a multisite validation of a human trafficking screening tool (HTST) for use by law enforcement and allied victim advocates. This tool was previously developed and validated for usage with young adults and adolescents in child welfare settings (Dank, Yahner, et. al. 2017). The purpose of the study is to improve law enforcement’s recognition and detection of both labor and sex trafficking victimization among people they encounter. The project has two methodological goals: first, to evaluate the practical effectiveness of the HTST’s implementation in diverse law enforcement settings; second, to estimate the prevalence of both sex and labor trafficking in partner site locations. In the current study, the HTST is self-administered electronically using a tablet or smart phone in a jail and a juvenile diversion program. We present findings related to the quantitative validation of the screening tool, the qualitative assessment of the tool’s utility, and the prevalence estimation of human trafficking in participating sites. This is the first validation of a human trafficking screening tool for law enforcement settings, and we discuss its ability to improve recognition of human trafficking and connect survivors with services.

Authors

• Ashlin Oglesby-Neal, The Urban Institute

• Sarah Aukamp, The Urban Institute

• Sam Bachman, The Urban Institute

• Jennifer Yahner, The Urban Institute