Advances in Human Trafficking Victim Identification

This webinar will present findings from two forward-thinking human trafficking studies that focus on human trafficking victim identification. This webinar will be of keen interest to investigators, victim services and health professionals, administrators of escort ad web scraping tools and databases, academics, and anyone interested in more precise tools to support the process of identifying human trafficking victims.

Both projects have resulted in key insights that can be used to better identify individuals most at risk of human trafficking and we look forward to sharing them with you.

Indicators of Sex Trafficking in Online Escort Ads 

Presents results from a study exploring the use of escort ads in U.S. sex trafficking investigations. It tests whether many commonly-used indicators or “signs” of trafficking indeed indicate a higher likelihood that the individual being advertised is a trafficking victim versus an independent person advertising commercial sex. Its unique contribution is that it tests indicators being used in the field against a counterfactual (known case outcomes) in order to identify differences in the presence of various indicators between ads known to be part of a trafficking case and those known to be part of a case that involves consensual sex work, but not trafficking.

Presenters:

• Kris Lugo-Graulich
• Karen Souza
• Lindsay Bostwick
• Bailey Maryfield 

Justice Research and Statistics Association

Human Trafficking Screening Tool for LGBTQAI Victims: Different Experiences, Risks and Needs

Requirements for a trafficking victim identification tool for LGBTQAI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/ queer, asexual, or intersex) people are explored via a series of key informant interviews with public health providers. The authors argue that this community faces dangers where they are uniquely susceptible to labor and sex trafficking. Due to their high-risk status, the LGBTQAI population require an effective, specialized screening tool. This project is in the development phase, and later we will validate this tool in public health settings.

Presenters:

• Amber Horning and Heidi Collins Fantasia, University of Massachusetts-Lowell
• Sara Jordenö, Rhode Island School of Design

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