LibGuides: Human Trafficking in Florida by Hannah Chisler: Overview: Florida and Human Trafficking

Introduction

Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery in which people are exploited for profit or gain of other individuals. It is the third largest crime industry in the world and Florida is ranked third out of all fifty states for human trafficking.

There are three main forms of Human Trafficking:

Sex Trafficking
- Victims are manipulated, threatened, or forced to engage in sex acts for profit. The use of force is the key element that distinguishes prostitution (which is the act of performing sex acts for money without the threat of force) and trafficking.
Forced Labor
- Victims are coerced into working for little or no pay, and are often subject to working conditions well below accepted standards.
Domestic Servitude
- Victims are forced to work as nannies, maids, domestic help with little to no pay, and are often blackmailed by the threat of deportation or stolen identification papers.

Credit: Osceola County Sheriff's Office https://www.osceolasheriff.org/human-trafficking-awareness/

Statistics

Credit: Katie Mellinger / WUFT

Human Trafficking in Florida
Q & A With Special Agent Jeff Vash, Human Trafficking Investigator

Organizations

Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking
- The Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking, an International and Domestic Anti-Trafficking Agency, is a 501(c)(3) organization that has been helping victims of human trafficking since it’s creation in 2004.
Statewide Council on Human Trafficking
- The 15-member Council chaired by Attorney General Moody, will build on existing state and local partnerships working to combat human trafficking.
  
  Members include law enforcement officers, prosecutors, legislators, as well as experts in the fields of health, education and social services. The Council was created through legislation passed and signed into law in 2014.
Florida Department of Children and Families
- A state agency that provides social services to children, adults, and refugees, domestic violence victims, human trafficking victims, etc.

Key Search Terms

human trafficking
human smuggling
Trafficking
Trafficking of humans
Trafficking of children
Trafficking AND people
modern day slavery
slavery
exploitation
sexual exploitation
labor exploitation
child sex tourism
child prostitution
slavery AND women
bonded labor
human rights
pimp
debt bondage

Websites

From the U.S. State Department

Trafficking Persons Report

Nonprofit 501(c)

The Polaris Project

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops - Become a SHEPARD

- Stop Human Trafficking and Exploitation. Protect, Help, Empower, and RestoreDignity (SHEPHERD) educates lay and religious leaders about human trafficking from a Catholic perspective, equipping them with needed knowledge and skills to combat forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation at the local level. If you are from a parish, diocese, school, or community group and want to respond to the Church's call for heightened commitment against modern-day slavery, then SHEPHERD is for you.

Disclaimer

All information in this research guide is for instructional purposes only and should not be used or considered as legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney to determine your legal rights and when proceeding on any issues regarding human trafficking.