NCJ Number
242382
Date Published
January 2011
Length
72 pages
Annotation
This report to the Texas State Legislature provides information on the problem of human trafficking in the State.
Abstract
This report was prepared for the Texas State Legislature by the Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force to provide information and updates on the problem of human trafficking in the State. As noted in this report, due to the limited availability of data on human trafficking in the State, the Task Force found it difficult to accurately measure the scope of the problem. Using data available from the national Human Trafficking Reporting System and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the report indicates that since 2007, 554 human trafficking investigations have led to the arrest of 132 suspects, with 113 of the suspects being indicted. Of the 113 indicted, 22 were charged with Federal violations and 72 were charged with State violations. Of the inmates incarcerated for charges of human trafficking, the majority were convicted of forced prostitution. The report also explores the current challenges faced by Texas in its efforts to fight human trafficking. These challenges include identifying prevention strategies, promoting awareness and education to increase detection of the problem, increasing victim identification, and providing protection for adult and child human trafficking victims. The report also provides information on Texas' statewide response to human trafficking as well as regional efforts to combat the problem. The final two sections of the report address future priorities and initiatives that the State should consider taking to address the problem of human trafficking, and legislative recommendations for the State legislature to consider to further the State's effort to combat the problem. Charts and appendix