Understanding What Works in the Successful Identification, Investigation, and Prosecution of Labor Trafficking Cases in the United States

Labor trafficking in the United States is a pervasive but under-identified crime. Prior research on the law enforcement response to labor trafficking has focused on the barriers to successful identification of labor trafficking cases. This proposal takes a different approach by investigating the ways that five U.S. counties have been able to prioritize the identification, investigation, and prosecution of labor trafficking cases. The applicants will examine the legal, policy, and cultural frameworks supporting anti-labor trafficking efforts in these communities. The applicants will address the goals of the study through a combination of:
(1) reviews of criminal justice agency human trafficking policies and procedures,
(2) closed case record reviews, and (up to 40 per site)
(3) in-depth, semi-structured interviews with local criminal justice and victim service provider stakeholders who have worked on labor trafficking cases or with labor trafficking survivors (N=20 per site 100 total).
Findings from the proposed study will advance our knowledge and inform practice regarding effective law enforcement response to labor trafficking in the United States and the role that laws, policies, and local culture play in the identification and response to these cases.
Note: This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law, and complies with Part 200 Uniform Requirements - 2 CFR 200.210(a)(14).
CA/NCF