Federal Law

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) defines "severe forms of human trafficking" as: The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for

• sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age; or

• labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery

Florida Law

Florida law defines human trafficking as a form of modern-day slavery. Victims of human trafficking are young children, teenagers, and adults. Thousands of victims are trafficked annually across international borders worldwide. Many of these victims are trafficked into this state. Victims of human trafficking also include citizens of the United States and those persons trafficked domestically within the borders of the United States. The Legislature finds that victims of human trafficking are subjected to force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor.

Signs of Human Trafficking

According to the Polaris Project, signs of human trafficking can include:

• Poor Mental Health or Abnormal Behavior

  • Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid

  • Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior after bringing up law enforcement or immigration officials

  • Shows signs of substance use or addiction

• Poor Physical Health

  • Shows signs of poor hygiene, malnourishment, and/or fatigue

  • Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture

• Lack of Control

  • Has few or no personal possessions

  • Is frequently monitored

  • Is not in control of his/her own money, no financial records, or bank account

  • Is not in control of his/her own identification documents (ID or passport)

  • Is not allowed or able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present and/or translating)

• Other

  • Claims of just visiting and inability to clarify where they are staying/address

  • Lack of knowledge of whereabouts and/or do not know what city he/she is in

  • Appear to have lost sense of time

  • Shares scripted, confusing, or inconsistent stories

  • Protects the person who may be hurting them or minimizes abuse

This list is not exhaustive and represents only a selection of possible indicators. The red flags in this list may not be present in all trafficking cases. Each individual indicator should be taken in context, not be considered in isolation, nor should be taken as “proof” that human trafficking is occurring. Additionally, cultural differences should also be considered.

The Learn the Signs of Human Trafficking video also provides additional insight into what to look for in victims of human trafficking. 

Statistics