2/28/2020

1

Human Trafficking 101: The Basics of Human Trafficking

Campus Safety and Violence Prevention Forum

March 10‐11, 2020

Human trafficking can affect all socioeconomic statuses, 

genders, races, and ethnicities. 

What Is Human Trafficking?

2/28/2020

2

What is Human Trafficking?

There are 6 main types of human trafficking worldwide:• Sex Trafficking • Labor Trafficking• Organ Harvesting• Forced Marriage• Debt Bondage• Child Soldier

Legal Definition of Sex and Labor Trafficking

Sex trafficking:The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act where such an act is induced by force, fraud, coercion or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age. (22 USC 7102)

Labor trafficking:The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage or slavery. (22 USC § 7102(9))

Types of Control

Sex Trafficking:• Gang Controlled (MS‐13 most prevalent in Virginia)• Family Controlled• Pimp Controlled

Labor Trafficking:• Debt Bondage

2/28/2020

3

How Does Sex TraffickingHappen in the United States?

The Grooming Process

Identify• Trafficker(s) identify an individual to connect with

Connect

• Trafficker connects with identified individual and begins to build rapport and a relationship with them

Manipulate

• Trafficker fills a void, need, or desire to make a “better life” for the individual

Isolate

• Trafficker increases personal time with individual and begins separating individual from family and friends

Abuse

• Physical abuse begins to maintain control and assert power

The Grooming Process

• Introduced by friend or family• Stranger• Family Member

• Social Media Apps• Texts• Gaming Platforms• Any technology that connects to others

2/28/2020

4

The Grooming Process

Money?

Need Housing?

Family? Drugs?

The Grooming Process

• Family support• Financial need• Desire for romantic relationship• Family neglect/abuse• Foster care 

• Illusion of “adulthood”• Homelessness• Substance abuse• Something else……

The Grooming Process

2/28/2020

5

The Grooming Process

260 survivors were surveyed. Of those with a trafficker:

‒ 42% stated that they trusted their trafficker within 1 month.

‒ 28% stated that they trusted their trafficker within 4 months.

The Grooming Process Can Happen Quickly!!

Source: Thorn. 2018. Survivor Insights: The Role of Technology in Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking. Pg. 27. Retrieved from https://www.thorn.org/wp‐content/uploads/2019/12/Thorn_Survivor_Insights_090519.pdf.

Survivor SurveyThorn: Released January 2018

Trauma Bonding

• "a strong emotional attachment between an abused person and his or her abuser, formed as a result of the cycle of violence." ‐ Austin & Boyd

2/28/2020

6

Imbalance of powerIntermittent 

Reinforcement of Abuse

Victim denies abuse Victim hides the abuse

Conditions of Trauma BondingSource: Trauma & Hope, LLC. Sexual Exploitation Treatment Training Services (2017).

Quality of Life and Health

Drug Addiction

Malnutrition

Basic needs not met

Lack of proper housing

Mental Abuse

Physical Abuse

Mental Health Issues

Disease / Illness

Indicators of Sex Trafficking

2/28/2020

7

• Runaways• Homeless Youth• Foster Care / System Involved Youth• Refugee Population• LGBTQ Population• Familial Issues (Divorce, estranged parents, broken relationships, etc.)

• Abused (sexual, physical, and/or emotional)• Financial Desperation• Intergenerational Trafficking Families• Gang Affiliated Families• Substance Abuse

High‐Risk Populations*Not an exhaustive list

• History of abuse• Indicators of Physical Abuse• Branding or Tattoos• Behavioral Changes• Older significant other• Unexplained change in school attendance (truancy)• Display of expensive items, bragging about money• Sexualized clothing, explicit on‐line profile, downloading pornography• Parties• Hanging out in unfamiliar neighborhoods• New cell phone or overly attached to phone• Gang affiliation• Runaway behavior, leaving home without telling their whereabouts• Isolating from family and other support systems

At‐Risk Behaviors*Not an exhaustive list

• Untreated injuries from beatings and rape• Unexplained bruises, scarring‐signs of physical abuse• Reproductive health problems (i.e. ‐ exposure to HIV and STD’s, fertility issues)

• Urinary Tract Infections• Somatic complaints (headaches, chronic pain)• Malnutrition• Severe dental problems• TB• Addictions to drugs/alcohol• Unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions• Fatigue• Significant weight loss

Medical Indicators*Not an exhaustive list

2/28/2020

8

Mental Health Related Effects of Trafficking*Not an exhaustive list

• Extreme fear and anxiety• Depression• Inability to trust others• Self‐destructive behaviors (such as 

suicide attempts)• Profound shame and guilt• Difficulty sleeping• Difficulty concentrating• Stress related disorders• Panic attacks• PTSD

Available Services

What Services are Available* Varies by Locality

Juveniles:• School Staff (Teacher, School Social Worker, Attendance Officer, School 

Security Officer, School Resource Officer, Administration, etc.)• Law Enforcement

• Local Law Enforcement• FBI• Homeland Security Investigations

• Department of Social Services / Child Protective Services• Juvenile Court Services (if involved)• Hospitals• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children• National Human Trafficking Hotline• Private Mental Health Professionals• Private Human Trafficking Programs

2/28/2020

9

What Services are Available* Varies by Locality

Adults:• Law Enforcement

• Local Law Enforcement• FBI• Homeland Security Investigations

• Court Services• Hospitals• Domestic Violence Programs (many can serve trafficking)• National Human Trafficking Hotline• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)• Private Mental Health Professionals• Private Human Trafficking Programs

Intersecting Issues

Please note: The following situations do not automatically indicate a human trafficking situation; however, these situations could potentially escalate into a human trafficking situation.

Sextortion

2/28/2020

10

Source: FBI. (2019). Sextortion Targets Youth Online. Retrieved from https://www.fbi.gov/video‐repository/sextortion‐053019.mp4/view

Source: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. (2016). Retrieved from https://youtu.be/a440H146l14

Arrangement Dating

2/28/2020

11

What is Arrangement Dating?

A negotiated relationship between two parties about what will be expected and/or provided in the relationship. The terms are often negotiated prior to meeting through online arrangement dating sites.

Arrangement Dating TerminologySugar Daddy or Sugar Mommy: Person paying for the relationshipSplenda Daddy or Splenda Mommy: Person who wants to be a Sugar Daddy or Sugar Mommy; however, does not have adequate funding to do so.Salt Daddy or Salt Mommy: Person who fraudulently poses as a Sugar Daddy or Sugar Mommy, but cannot fund the lifestyle.Experience Daddy or Experience Mommy: Pays for trips and experiences rather than giving money.Sugar Baby: Female receiving money for the relationship. Sugar Pup:Male receiving money for the relationship.Sugar Relationship: The arrangement dating situation.Arrangement: The negotiated business style relationship.Allowance: The money that the Sugar Daddy or Sugar Mommy gives to the Sugar Baby or Sugar Pup on a regular basis. Typically weekly or monthly.Meet & Greet: Term for a first date.

Types of Relationships:No Strings Attached (NSA)Pay Per Meet (PPM)Long‐Term Arrangement (LTA)Short‐Term Arrangement (STA)

“When these sugar‐daddy relationships go the way I think they should go, the lines are pretty blurry between that and a typical boyfriend‐girlfriend relationship,” she said. “And when they go the way I don’t think they should go, the lines are blurry between that and sex work.” – A.B.

Source: Padawer, Ruth (April 12, 2009). "Keeping Up With Being Kept". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 February 2020.

2/28/2020

12

Questions?

Angella AlvernazState Trafficking Response Coordinator

Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)angella.alvernaz@dcjs.virginia.gov

804.517.8695