Local Law Enforcement Officers’ Knowledge of Human Trafficking: Ability to Define, Identify, and Assist
Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Human Trafficking
Abstract
Local law enforcement officers have been identified as key figures in the fight
against human trafficking, yet training has lagged, and their preparation to fulfill
this role is unknown. Thus, 175 U.S. local law enforcement officers completed a
survey assessing their ability to define human trafficking and to identify and
assist its survivors. Approximately 17% of officers reported receiving training on
human trafficking, while two thirds relied on mass media for information about
human trafficking. Answers indicated confusion between human smuggling and
human trafficking and a lack of knowledge of the elements of trafficking and
who potential victims are. A substantial minority struggled to identify signs that
a person might be a survivor of human trafficking and methods for intervention.
Having received training and receiving information on trafficking from an official
source significantly increased officers’ knowledge base. These results strongly
support the need for formal training of local law enforcement officers and
provision of knowledge from law enforcement sources in order to be able to
effectively combat human trafficking
Description
item.page.type
Article
item.page.format
Keywords
Human trafficking, law enforcement training
Citation
Mapp, S., Hornung, E., D’Almeida, M., & Juhnke, J. (2016). Local Law Enforcement Officers’ Knowledge of Human Trafficking: Ability to Define, Identify, and Assist. Journal of Human Trafficking, 2(4), 329-342.