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Understanding Human Trafficking in the United States

NCJ Number
225467
Journal
Trauma, Violence, & Abuse: A Review Journal Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2009 Pages: 3-30
Author(s)
T.K. Logan; Robert Walker; Gretchen Hunt
Date Published
January 2009
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This article provides an extensive discussion on human trafficking in the United States.
Abstract
Research indicates five main points as its goals for discussion: to define what human trafficking is, and is not; to describe factors identified as contributing to vulnerability to being trafficked and keeping a person entrapped in the situation; to examine how the crime of human trafficking differs from other kinds of crimes in the United States; to explore how human trafficking victims are identified; and, to provide recommendations to better address human trafficking in the United States. The article notes that the topic of modern-day slavery or human trafficking has received increased media and national attention, but there has been limited research on the nature and scope of human trafficking in the United States. The article also provides a description and synthesis of nine reports that assess the U.S. service organizations’ legal representative knowledge of, and experience with, human trafficking cases, as well as information from actual cases and media reports. Summaries are provided in closing of both the critical findings and the implications of the review. Tables and references