Addressing the Data Deficit: How TIPSTR Supports Florida's Fight Against Human Trafficking

• In Event: From Siloed Data to Comprehensive Insights: The Role of Collaboration in Addressing Human Trafficking

Abstract

It is vital that academics support anti-trafficking efforts, especially considering that Florida ranks third. Although Florida is a leader in responding to human trafficking, there remains a critical lack of data available needed to develop targeted prevention efforts, identify and assist victims, prosecute perpetrators, and inform data-driven anti-trafficking legislation and initiatives. While many agencies in Florida collect human trafficking data, without a centralized entity, the data remained siloed. The passage of SB 7064 in 2023 authorized the USF TIP Lab to create the Statewide Repository for Anonymous Human Trafficking Data (TIPSTR). TIPSTR comprises data from state agencies and service providers on human trafficking incidents, hotspots, trends, prevention efforts, services, and community risk factors. With the aggregated data, TIPSTR addresses this crucial data gap in Florida and provides a comprehensive assessment of human trafficking throughout the state. Preliminary findings and implications will be discussed.

Authors

• Joan Reid, University of South Florida

• Kailey Pate Carter, University of South Florida

• Taylor Algerio, University of South Florida

• Emily Walker, University of South Florida

• Klejdis Bilali, University of South Florida

• Caralin Branscum, University of South Florida

• Sarah Lockwood, University of South Florida

• Alexandria McCullum, University of South Florida