Identifying Human Trafficking Victims in a Healthcare Setting

  • June 15, 2016
  • Dona Constantine, RN

medical office staff
According to California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris, “Human trafficking is the world’s fastest growing criminal enterprise and is an estimated $32 billion-a-year global industry. It is a form of modern day slavery that profits from the exploitation of our mostvulnerable population.”

Human trafficking victims are not just trafficked for sex. They also can be trafficked for labor and found in occupations such as, but not limited to, domestic servants, hotel maids, nail or massage salon and restaurant workers.

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The United States is widely regarded as a destination country for human trafficking. The U.S. Department of State estimates that 14,500 to 17,500 of victims are trafficked into this country each year. California, with a significant immigrant population, is one of the top destinations for trafficking human beings. Los Angeles is one of the main trafficking hubs.

Although trafficked human beings can be difficult to recognize, many are treated by physicians and their staff. All who work in healthcare are in a unique position to help identify victims. A patient’s behavior may be a clue, such as being fearful, not speaking for themselves, or being controlled by another who speaks for the patient. Bruises may be present that do not match the description of how the injury took place. There may be lack of a passport or other identifying papers. Even though some of these clues may signal other situations such as domestic violence or child abuse, it is important to become familiar with the “red flags” for identifying potential victims, which are found on a number of websites, most notably the following:

Be cautious when assisting an identified trafficking victim, because the trafficker might threaten to or actually harm you, the victim, or their families. The following resources are available for either a healthcare provider to assist or for patients themselves to use in order to gain freedom:

Fighting Human Trafficking

In 2004 and 2005, the U.S. Department of Justice awarded grants to create six regional task forces in California to combat human trafficking. In 2009 and 2010, the California Emergency Management Agency used American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant funds to supplement the original six task forces and establish three new regional task forces.

From mid-2010 to mid-2012, California's nine regional human trafficking task forces identified 1,277 victims, initiated 2,552 investigations, and arrested 1,798 individuals. As part of their work to combat human trafficking, the task forces also provide training to a variety of audiences on how to identify and respond to the crime. In the same two-year period, California's task forces provided training to 25,591 law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, victim service providers, and other first responders.

California's regional anti-human trafficking task forces employ a comprehensive, victim-centered approach, and are made up of law enforcement and local, state, and federal prosecutors, as well as other governmental leaders and nongovernmental organizations.

Task Forces and Lead Nongovernmental Organizations

Dona Constantine is a senior risk management and patient safety specialist for the Cooperative of American Physicians. Questions or comments related to this article should be directed to dconstantine@CAPphysicians.com.