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Polaris Project – the nonprofit that operates the National Human Trafficking Hotline – recently released state-by-state numbers of human trafficking cases. Each year, the National Human Trafficking Hotline receives thousands of calls from across the country from people who are victims, community members, law enforcement, health care providers and child advocates. This year the reports to the National Human Trafficking Hotline jumped 25 percent from the reports of 2017. In 2018, there were 10,949 human trafficking cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline from across the country. North Carolina ranks No. 10 in the nation for human trafficking cases reported. In front of North Carolina with more cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline are California at No. 1, Texas at No. 2, Florida at No. 3, New York at No. 4, Ohio at No. 5, Michigan at No. 6, Georgia at No. 7, Nevada at No. 8 and Illinois at No. 9. |
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Statistics Disclaimer: |
The National Human Trafficking Hotline numbers are not the end-all and be-all of human trafficking statistics. As a matter of fact, statistics for human trafficking are notoriously hard to pin down for a variety of reasons. There is no centralized database where instances of human trafficking are reported – this means response by local law enforcement, service providers and other social services agencies are not included. Also, victims of human trafficking rarely self-identify or seek help. These numbers only show what the National Human Trafficking Hotline sees. |
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A Look at North Carolina |
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North Carolina ranks No. 10 in the nation for human trafficking cases. The National Human Trafficking Hotline received 859 calls or contacts which amounted to 287 confirmed human trafficking cases. This is an increase from 2017, with 227 confirmed cases of human trafficking being reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Of the confirmed human trafficking cases, 192 were sex trafficking, 54 was labor trafficking, 14 were sex and labor trafficking and 27 were not specified. The majority of victims were female (186), followed by 41 male victims and 4 gender minority victims. The age groups that are reported from NHTH are predominantly adult with 143 adult victims and 54 minor victims. Five years ago, North Carolina was reporting only 100 confirmed cases of human trafficking cases to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Comparing the numbers from last year and five years ago could indicate three things:There is an actual increase in human trafficking in North CarolinaOR Awareness initiatives are amplified and more victims are offered help and resources and possibly rescue and restorationOR BOTH |
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Sex Trafficking in North Carolina |
In North Carolina, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline statistics, sex trafficking is the most common form of trafficking. There were 192 cases of sex trafficking reported to the NHTH in 2018. Of those 192 cases, the top venues for sex trafficking include hotels/motels, illicit massage businesses, residential, other and escort services. The top venue numbers breakdown indicates that 24 were hotel/motel based, 24 were illicit message businesses, 15 were residential, 14 were listed as other and 12 were from escort services. |
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Labor Trafficking in North Carolina |
Labor trafficking is prevalent in North Carolina as well. There were 54 labor trafficking cases reported to the NHTH in 2018. The top venues for labor trafficking in North Carolina, according to the NHTH, are agriculture, begging rings, travelling sales crews, domestic work, and retail and small business. Eight of those cases were in the agricultural industry; seven of those cases involved victims in a begging labor trafficking ring; six were people involved in domestic work; five reported working in retail or in other small businesses; and four reported being involved in travelling sales crews. |
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Types of Trafficking Disclaimer: |
It should be noted that though the National Human Trafficking Hotline reports that the most prevalent type of human trafficking is for sex, the report ONLY INCLUDES WHAT THE NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE HEARD ABOUT. Labor trafficking is extremely prevalent in North Carolina when looking at the agriculture industry, domestic servitude, restaurants, construction work and hotel workers. To see that more victims of labor trafficking are recognized and offered help, community awareness about labor trafficking must be raised. It is also important to note that, in the current climate, many victims of labor trafficking who are not domestically born, will likely not come forward out of fear of deportation or losing their legal status. Of course, the same principle applies to victims of sex trafficking who were not born in the United States. |
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Call to Action |
Learn the Red Flags and Warning SignsAwareness is very important when we talk about reducing human trafficking in North Carolina. If people — community members, hotel staff, health care providers, law enforcement, social workers, foster care professionals, educators, school personnel, first responders, counselors — don’t know the indicators of human trafficking, they can never report it and victims won’t be acknowledged and helped. Report itIf you see something suspicious, report it to authorities, and call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-3737-888 or text HELP to the BeFree Texting Helpline (233733). These confidential helplines are toll-free and operate 24/7. Information is also available on prevention and program planning at polarisproject.org. |
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Human Trafficking 101 |