Identifying the Crime of Human Trafficking
Law enforcement officers should keep in mind that the following
scenarios may involve some form of human trafficking, or may be
situations in which victims and/or traffickers could be found:
- Prostitution rings
- Operations of massage parlors, strip clubs, etc.
- Domestic abuse
- "False" or poorly examined 911 calls
- Vice raid where foreign nationals are encountered
- Encounters with migrant workers where a foreman or supervisor
attempts to keep the group away from the law enforcement officers
or attempts to control all communication between the officer and
the group
- Brawls between people in which money is owed
- Crimes involving immigrant children in situations such as prostitution
or forced labor
Law enforcement officers may encounter the perpetrators or traffickers
themselves who will offer alleged explanations of the situation.
In these cases it is important for the first responding officer
to note the following about others at the scene of the crime who
may be victims of human trafficking:
- What are their living conditions?
- What are their working conditions?
- Are there indications of restriction of movement (e.g., are
they allowed to leave the premises)?
- Are they forced to make frequent moves?
- Are there any behavioral indicators of severe dependency (e.g.,
submissive behavior, fearful behavior in the presence of others)?
- Who is in physical possession of their legal documents of identification?
- Who insists on providing information to law enforcement?
- Are they in the country legally?
Traffickers use various techniques to keep victims enslaved. Some
traffickers keep their victims under lock and key, however, the
more frequent practice is to use less obvious techniques including:
- Debt bondage – financial obligations, honor-bound to satisfy
debt
- Isolation from the public – limiting contact with outsiders
and making sure that any contact is monitored or superficial in
nature
- Isolation from family members and members of their ethnic and
religious community
- Confiscation of passports, visas and/or identification documents
- Use or threat of violence toward victims and/or families of
victims
- The threat of shaming victims by exposing circumstances to family
- Telling victims they will be imprisoned or deported for immigration
violations if they contact authorities
- Control of the victims’ money, e.g., holding their money
for “safe-keeping”
The result of such techniques is to instill fear in victims. The
victims’ isolation is further exacerbated because many do
not speak English and are from countries where law enforcement
is corrupt and feared.
Traffickers may also violate multiple state and local laws including:
- Murder
- Kidnapping
- Prostitution, pandering or promoting prostitution
- Assault
- Sexual assault and battery
- False imprisonment
|
