Articles Published by NIJ

Summary of a plenary panel from the 2024 NIJ Research Conference

Researchers identified and described best practices for law enforcement interviewing of trafficking victims, based on the literature.

Scientific study finds that many widely recognized indicators of trafficking in online escort ads are likely not reliable. Research also produces new practice guide.

Chat lines and text lines can be lifelines for victims of crime and trauma who need help.

Evaluation of state-based task forces using “Enhanced Collaborative Model” reveals steady gains but recommends improvements, such as a more balanced approach to sex and labor trafficking.

A study of Kentucky’s safe harbor laws revealed they have helped decriminalize sex-trafficked youth. However, the study also highlighted a lack of resources and training for child welfare personnel and judges who work with these youth.

Labor trafficking is a global affliction cloaked in quantitative uncertainty. One research team used a new analytical approach in search of better clarity on the presence, treatment, and possible trafficking of migrant farmworkers in North Carolina.

Integrating forensic evidence into the intelligence process is an evolutionary next step in reducing, disrupting, and preventing violent crime.

With support from the National Institute of Justice, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the state of Nevada teamed up to reduce the backlog of untested sexual assault kits.