Understanding What Works in the Successful Identification, Investigation, and Prosecution of U.S. Labor Trafficking Cases

• In Event: NIJ-Day: Advancing our Understanding of Labor Trafficking in the United States

Abstract

Despite continued commitment of the federal government to prioritize the identification of and response to labor trafficking, labor trafficking cases remain elusive and under-identified by law enforcement in the U.S. This project focuses on promising practices in labor trafficking identification and response in five U.S. counties that have demonstrated innovation and commitment to addressing the problem of labor trafficking. Through in-depth, semi-structured stakeholder interviews and an analysis of data extracted from both sex and labor trafficking case records, this study provides insight into the differences between sex and labor trafficking case characteristics. Additionally, this study explores the ways that law enforcement and victim service provider approaches collaborations, and objectives may need to be tailored differently for labor trafficking than for sex trafficking investigations.

Authors

• Rebecca Pfeffer, RTI International

• Kelle Barrick, RTI International

• Meredith Dank, New York University

• Elizabeth Tibaduiza, RTI International

• Peyton Attaway, RTI International