Human traffickers exploit vulnerable individuals for commercial sex and forced labor in a variety of legal and illegal industries, both across the United States and around the world. While some estimates of the incidence of human trafficking exist, comprehensive data on human trafficking within the United States are not available. Criminal Justice Data One method for understanding the extent and nature of a particular type of crime, such as human trafficking, is to examine available criminal justice data. While some data exist at the state and federal levels, there are limitations to their utility. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) collects data from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies on certain criminal offenses known to law enforcement through its Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. In 2013, the FBI began collecting certain human trafficking data as part of this program, and agency participation in collecting these data has increased over time. As of January 2021, the FBI retired its prior crime data reporting system, the Summary Reporting System (SRS), in favor of the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). NIBRS collects more detailed data about a larger number of crimes than the SRS, including information on the demographics of the victim and offender, the time and place of incidents, any associated weapons or drugs, the relationship between the victim and offender, and whether a computer was used to perpetrate the crime. These data may improve understanding of the extent and nature of human trafficking. Investigations and prosecutions of human trafficking cases can provide another snapshot of human trafficking. Most federal investigations of human trafficking are carried out by the FBI and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations. These data can only speak to the portion of human trafficking offenses that (1) fall under the jurisdiction of federal law enforcement and (2) are officially investigated and potentially prosecuted at the federal level. Non-Criminal Justice Data In the absence of comprehensive criminal justice data on human trafficking, other sources of data, such as information from victim service providers or survey data, can be leveraged for additional insight. National Human Trafficking Hotline Data. This hotline collects data on reported, but unverified by law enforcement, instances of human trafficking across the United States. These reports are made by individuals reporting victimization themselves, community members, and nongovernmental organizations, among others. Victim Services Data. A range of services may be available to certain victims of trafficking. Data on various forms of immigration relief, for example, can provide snapshots of a subset of the noncitizen victim population. Further, a number of federal agencies administer grants that fund organizations serving trafficking victims; data provided by grantees can offer insight into the experiences of trafficking victims receiving federally funded services. Survey and Study Data. The federal government and other entities conduct and fund ad hoc studies that capture data on human trafficking, as either an express purpose or an included variable. These studies can also provide insight into trafficking victim experiences or victim estimates in certain locales. There are several domains in which Congress may consider actions to improve or expand data about human trafficking in the United States. With respect to criminal justice data, policymakers may examine the collection of human trafficking data through the FBI’s UCR program. They may also consider data collection on trafficking victimization through surveys such as the National Crime Victimization Survey. In addition, policymakers may consider requirements to enhance data collection by federal grantees serving trafficking victims. Congress may debate options to enhance human trafficking awareness broadly so as to affect the many arenas in which human trafficking data may be made available.
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