Human trafficking is a serious Federal crime with penalties of up to imprisonment for life. Cases of human trafficking have been reported in all 50 States, Washington, DC, and some United States territories. Victims of human trafficking can be children or adults, male or female. According to U.S. Government estimates, thousands of men, women, and children are trafficked to the United States for the purposes of sexual and labor exploitation. Sex traffickers target children because of their vulnerability and gullibility, as well as the market demand for young victims. The average age of entry into prostitution is 12 to 14 years old. Recruitment can take multiple forms and traffickers are known to recruit at schools and after-school programs. There are many signs in identifying a victim of human trafficking, such as unexplained absences from school for a period of time, chronically running away from home, exhibiting bruises or other physical trauma, depression, or fear, and being hungry-malnourished or inappropriately dressed. If an incident of human trafficking is suspected, the local police department or emergency access number should be notified, the national 24/7 toll-free Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888, for sexual exploitation call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST, should be called or the nearest FBI field office or the Department of Justice’s, Human Trafficking Office at 1-888-428-7581 should be notified. Resources