| The Mindset of a
Human Trafficking Victim
The following points illustrate how victims of trafficking may see
themselves and their situations. It highlights the challenges that
you may face as a law enforcement officer when interacting with
potential victims.
Victims are taught by their traffickers to distrust outsiders,
especially law enforcement. They have a sense of fear and/or distrust
toward the government and police because they are afraid they will
be deported. Sometimes they feel that it is their fault that they
are in this situation. As a coping or survival skill, they may develop
loyalties and positive feelings toward their trafficker or may even
try to protect them from authorities.
- Victims of human trafficking are hesitant to come forward because
of their fear of being deported. While many of these victims are
women and children who have been beaten and/or raped, their current
situation may still be better than where they came from.
- Victims come from different social and ethnic backgrounds than
the investigating officers. There may be significant cultural
differences between the victim and U.S. law enforcement officials.
- Victims may be completely unaware of their rights or may have
been intentionally misinformed about their rights in this country.
- Many victims do not self-identify as victims. They also do not
see themselves as people who are homeless or as drug addicts who
rely on shelters or assistance. Victims may not appear to need
social services because they have a place to live, food to eat,
medical care and what they think is a paying job.
- The victims may fear not only for their own safety but also
for that of their families in their home countries. Some traffickers
threaten that they will harm their victims' families if the victims
report their situations to, or cooperate with, law enforcement.
- Criminal prosecution should empower the victims and should facilitate
their healing process so that they see the crimes committed against
them condemned and the people who harmed them punished.
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