International Human Trafficking Research

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Human Trafficking is the "'...recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons...' by improper means, such as force, abduction, fraud, or coercion, for an improper purpose, such as forced or coerced labour, servitude, slavery or sexual exploitation." (Source:UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons)

Since 1998, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has been funding and participating in a range of human trafficking research projects and initiatives. These include a diverse mix of research, demonstration, and development efforts that focus on exploitation of children, the social consequences of sex trafficking, human smuggling from China, the impacts of trafficking in the United States, and trafficking in women from Ukraine. NIJ's human trafficking portfolio contains 15 projects, which are grouped in 9554four research areas.9554

DEVELOPMENT & DISSEMINATION

14885Expert Focus Group on Trafficking in Persons14885. NIJ's International Center convened an intergovernmental focus group to ascertain how various agencies are dealing with the problem, policy needs, and the types and availability of existing data (on arrests, prosecutions, deportations, etc). Representatives from the Departments of Labor, State, and Justice (Criminal Division, Child Exploitation and Obscenity, INS, INTERPOL, Civil Rights, and FBI) attended the meeting (Washington D.C., April 2001).

United Nations Workshop on Trafficking in Human Beings, Especially Women and Children. NIJ participated in a workshop for the United Nations Crime Commission meeting in Vienna in May 2003. The workshop focused on the global state of knowledge of human trafficking and interventions to raise awareness of delegates of represented countries. The website contains papers presented at the workshop, which include regional overviews of the situation and relevant attempts at intervention (2003).

International Scientific and Professional Advisory Council of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme (ISPAC) and Centro Nazionale di Prevenzione e Difesa Sociale (CNPDS), in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). NIJ participated in the international conference Measuring Human Trafficking: Complexities and Pitfalls . The meeting featured presentations from multiple countries (and from NIJ) on ways to address this problem. (Courmayeur, Italy. December 2005). Presentations from this meeting will be published in late 2006.

Webcast with Harvard University on Human Trafficking. In an effort to broaden dissemination efforts, the International Center at NIJ worked with the Communications division to develop a web cast in conjunction with Harvard University, featuring several experts on the subject. (June, 2006).

NIJ Solicitations: Research on Trafficking in Human Beings. NIJ's first solicitation exclusively for research on human trafficking was posted January 2005. Three new projects were funded. NIJ's first solicitation exclusively for Transnational Crime closed in February 2006, resulting in funding of two additional projects on human trafficking.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING PROJECTS

Nature and extent of trafficking
Detecting and investigating traffickers
Prosecuting traffickers
Services for trafficking victims

NATURE AND EXTENT OF TRAFFICKING

Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. (University of Pennsylvania). This research project collected and used first-generation baseline data concerning the prevalence of child sexual exploitation in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The project: (1) identified the nature, extent, and causes of the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) in the region; and (2) the modes of operation of networks of adult criminals engaged in CSEC. (2002).

• Available in journal form—Albanese, Jay. (2004). Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: Assessing What We Know and its Implications for Research and Practice. International Journal of Comparative Criminology , vol. 4.
• Available in a book—published in Transnational Crime (de Sitter Publications, 2005).

Sex Trafficking of Women in the U.S. (Coalition Against Trafficking in Women) This project described the social consequences of sex trafficking, examining patterns of violence, crime, health and other human costs; and demonstrated that sex trafficking is a complex system dependent on international and domestic linkages. The study follows the path of trafficked women from the point of entrance into the U.S. sex industry (2001). Also available from Coalition Against Trafficking in Women.

Chinese Human Smuggling Organizations. (California State University) U.S. researchers collaborated with researchers in Fuzhou (China) to examine the structure and operation of Chinese human smuggling organizations. This project investigated the individual and group characteristics of people smugglers; the financial and violent aspects of illegal migration; the relationship between human smuggling and Chinese gangs and organized crime groups; and the alleged connection between the human trade and government corruption. It was found that most smugglers were ordinary citizens with social networks providing the necessary connections and resources to profit from human trade. This project is also a NIJ research in brief and a journal article, see: Zhang, Sheldon and Ko-lin Chin. (2002) "Enter the Dragon: Inside Chinese Human Smuggling Organizations," Criminology, vol. 40.

Trafficking in Women from Ukraine. (University of Rhode Island, DOS funds) This project was a qualitative descriptive research study on the nature and extent of trafficking in women from the Ukraine. A questionnaire to measure attitudes towards trafficking was administered, and the attributes of victims of sexual exploitation were evaluated, as were the operational dynamics of trafficking in women and children in Ukraine. This research project was part of a larger partnership program between NIJ, the U.S. State Department, and the Ukrainian Academy of Law Sciences (2003).

• Available on the web—http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/tpcnexus
• Available in a journal—Hughes, Donna M. and Tatyana A. Denisova. (2001). The Transnational Political Criminal Nexus of Trafficking in Women from Ukraine. Trends in Organized Crime, vol. 6, pp. 43-67.
• Available as a book summarizing this and the other Ukraine organized crime-related projects—J. Finckenauer and J. Schrock, eds. The Prediction and Control of Organized Crime: The Experience of Post-Soviet Ukraine (Transaction Books, 2004).

Cases of Human Trafficking in the U.S.: A Content Analysis of a Calendar Year. (Intramural research with graduate assistant) This study searched for known human trafficking cases in major U.S. newspapers in multiple American cities (located near national borders) over the course of a calendar year. Seven search terms were used including "human trafficking," "drug trafficking," "smuggling," "prostitution," "illegal immigration," "alien," and "refugee," followed by a content analysis of each media account. A replication study, covering cases discovered two years later, is in progress.

• Available in journal form—Albanese, Jay, Jennifer Schrock Donnelly, and Talene Kelegian. (2004). "Cases of Human Trafficking in the United States : A Content Analysis of a Calendar Year in 18 Cities." International Journal of Comparative Criminology, vol. 4, pp. 96-111.
• Available in a book—published in Transnational Crime (de Sitter Publications, 2005).

Estimating Human Trafficking: Development of a Methodology. (Caliber Associates, includes Phase II Extension) This project developed a method that will generate credible and reproducible estimates of the prevalence of human trafficking in the U.S. Specifically, this project: 1) described the stages of trafficking from countries of origin into the U.S.; 2) identified potential data sources for assessing each stage; 3) determined gaps in data and suggested means to fill the gaps; 4) produced a method to estimate the magnitude of human trafficking; and 5) created a preliminary estimate of human trafficking from Central America across the southwest U.S. border.

Assessing the Extent of Human Trafficking: A Community Outreach Approach. (Vera Institute) In collaboration with NGOs, the research will design and conduct a multi-site field test of a data collection instrument in New York City to more effectively identify and gather data on individual victims of trafficking, and provide critical information to law enforcement, service providers, and government officials. Information generated will serve the dual purpose of assisting service providers in identifying victims and providing researchers with data on victim demographics, migratory and employment histories, criminal networks, and the process of victim discovery. The results will draw conclusions about the feasibility of implementing the data-collection instrument in other jurisdictions, point to best practices, and standardize protocols for victim identification.

The Transnational Movement of Chinese Women for Commercial Sex Acts. (Rutgers University) This is an examination of the underlying reasons, methods, characteristics, and groups involved in the illicit movement of women from China to elsewhere in Asia and the U.S. Approximately 300 interviews will be conducted at seven different research sites (Hong Kong/Macau, Tokyo, Taipei, Bangkok, Singapore, New York City, and Los Angeles) with those working in the sex industry, those involved in industry operations, legal authorities, and victim service providers.

DETECTING AND INVESTIGATING TRAFFICKERS

Asian Transnational Organized Crime and its Impact on the United States. (Rutgers University) This work was NIJ 's first substantial effort to address Asian transnational crime (from multiple countries) and its U.S. impacts. Interviews with U.S. and Asian law enforcement and other criminal justice officials revealed that transnational organized crime networks operating in the region are highly specialized. It documents how several important issues of transnational crime overlap: trafficking in women and children, human smuggling, and drug production and trafficking, and these are the priority issues in the Asian region which directly impact the U.S. The report offers specific strategies for pursuing a research agenda on U.S. impacts of Asian transnational crime. This project has also generated an NIJ monograph.

Law Enforcement Response to Human Trafficking and Its Implications for Victims: Current Practices and Lessons Learned. (Caliber Associates) Little is known about how law enforcement agencies are organizing their response to human trafficking, or the capabilities of law enforcement to respond to the needs of trafficking victims. This exploratory project was designed to fill this gap by providing a clear perspective on the current state of law enforcement's understanding of human trafficking. This project identified: 1) current law enforcement responses to human trafficking; 2) the implications of such responses for victims; and 3) best practices and lessons learned by law enforcement and the partners they collaborate with on trafficking cases (e.g., victim service providers, attorneys, etc.).

Understanding and Improving Law Enforcement Responses to Human Trafficking. (Northeastern University) A national sample of law enforcement agencies (n= ~3,000) will be surveyed to determine local definitions of trafficking, the number and type of investigations conducted, the extent of reporting and coordination with other agencies and good practices for combating human trafficking. Second, selected jurisdictions with existing trafficking programs, and multi-agency partners (e.g., law enforcement, US Attorneys, District Attorneys, service providers) will be surveyed to help identify the benefits and challenges of reporting, investigating and prosecuting trafficking using multi-agency models. Third, intensive case studies will also be conducted in Boston, Massachusetts; St. Louis, Missouri; and Phoenix, Arizona to provide qualitative data about local efforts to investigate cases and provide services to trafficking victims.

PROSECUTING TRAFFICKERS

Trafficking in Persons in the U.S. (Croft Institute for International Studies) This research examined human trafficking case studies in Southwest Florida, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. The project evaluated (1) ways to improve identification, investigation, prosecution, and conviction of traffickers; (2) good and bad examples of how victims have been approached and processed and ultimately had their situations resolved; (3) how to determine victims' needs and ways to meet them; and (4) how to find ways to bring together and improve the interaction of entities involved in these cases (2005).

Prosecuting Human Trafficking Cases: Lessons Learned. (Caliber Associates/American Prosecutors Research Institute) In this project, researchers will examine the effect of existing legislation on the successful prosecution of human trafficking cases. Surveys of federal and state attorneys, interviews with key stakeholders, and an analysis of legislation and legal cases inside and outside the U.S. will be used to identify key issues in prosecution and lessons learned.

SERVICES FOR TRAFFICKING VICTIMS

Needs Assessment for Service Providers and Trafficking Victims. (Caliber Associates) This project assessed the needs of trafficking victims and the domestic service providers who worked with them. The research team completed interviews with a national sample of 98 domestic service providers (2003). Caliber has also posted a final version of this report.

• Available in journal form—Clawson, Heather J., Kevonne Small, Ellen S. Go, and Bradley Myles. (2004). Human Trafficking in the United States: Uncovering the Needs of Victims and the Service Providers Who Work with Them. International Journal of Comparative Criminology, vol. 4, pp. 68-95.
• Available in a book—published in Transnational Crime (de Sitter Publications, 2005).

Evaluation of Services Provided to Victims of Trafficking. (Caliber Associates, OVC funds) In collaboration with OVC, NIJ is conducting an in-depth evaluation of sites funded by the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Trafficking Victims Protection Act Grant Program for Victim Services. This evaluation is intended to build knowledge that will help ensure the services are conceptually well-developed and field-tested.

Research on Child Survivors of Trafficking for Sexual and Labor Exploitation. (Georgetown University) This project will: 1) examine patterns of abuse of child victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation; 2) analyze the challenges service providers face in assisting them; and 3) identify best practices and treatment modalities used to facilitate rehabilitation of child victims of trafficking. The project will be based on two primary data sources: 1) ethnographic interviews with child survivors of trafficking for sexual exploitation selected from among children currently in care (N=63 at time of writing) in the United States; and 2) key informant interviews with service providers serving child victims of trafficking. This population was identified for study since the overwhelming majority of victims of severe forms of trafficking are women and children.