Modeling Illicit Human Trafficking Networks: Comparing Network Models with Two Data Sources

• In Event: Understanding Human and Sex Trafficking

Abstract

Human trafficking is a criminal business model that continues to thrive in the United States despite legal efforts to dismantle its operation. This suggests current disruption techniques are not as effective as is necessary. Fundamental to any disruption strategy is understanding of the illicit network structure and the potentially vulnerable and impactful points of intervention. This research builds upon supply chain disruption theory of illicit networks by comparing network structures of the same human trafficking incident modeled using public information from court records (model 1) and private information from legal advocates (model 2) for a labor trafficking case in the agriculture sector. The first data source for the first network model was generated from publicly available case records, whereas the data source for the second model was obtained through a partnership with a labor advocacy organization that handled this case. Our findings present the variations of information learned about the network from public vs. private data sources and how this informs disruption strategies.

Authors

• Jada Yavette Vaughan, Northeastern University

• Amy Farrell, Northeastern University

• Shawn Bhimani, Northeastern University

• Kayse Maass, Northeastern University