Public Awareness of Human Trafficking

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Key Takeaways

Public Awareness

Due to the covert nature of trafficking crimes, the public is often unaware that these crimes can occur close to home, and that businesses in their neighborhood may benefit from, or be used as conduits for, sex and labor trafficking. State actions to raise public awareness of trafficking, and mitigate its influence on commerce, include disseminating information on trafficking crimes, services and prevention efforts, and setting standards in certain industries for licensing, advertising, training and disclosure.

Laws raise trafficking awareness by:

• Disseminating information about the national human trafficking hotline.
• Requiring state entities to engage in public awareness campaigns.
• Commemorating efforts to combat trafficking.

Business Regulations

Laws Regulate Businesses by:

• Requiring disclosures of anti-trafficking efforts.
• Encouraging voluntary anti-trafficking commitments.
• Setting standards for licensing in some professions and for advertising certain services.
• Requiring anti-trafficking training.

National Human Trafficking Hotline

Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia have laws that promote access to information about human trafficking by using the National Human Trafficking Hotline. The hotline is a telephone and web service that members of the public can call to report suspected cases of trafficking, survivors can call for help, or interested persons can contact for trafficking information. Laws require or encourage the dissemination of information about the hotline, charge state entities with creating educational information for awareness about the hotline and mandate certain business and facilities post information related to the hotline.

Information Campaigns

To draw attention to human trafficking crimes and the efforts to combat them, states have charged a variety of entities within their jurisdiction with raising the public's awareness. Generally, these entities have many duties including coordinating state resources to provide services to trafficking survivors and implementing training protocols on trafficking for state employees. In addition, states also commemorate efforts against trafficking by granting special recognition during specific days and months.

Entities Charged with Public Awareness

• Mississippi requires its statewide human trafficking coordinator to create a website to promote its own work.
• North Dakota requires the state's human trafficking commission to promote public awareness of human trafficking, victim services, and prevention efforts.
• South Carolina requires its interagency task force to develop a public awareness program that, in part, will educate potential victims of the risks of human trafficking.

State Commemorations

• Hawaii designates January as "Human Trafficking Awareness Month" to promote public awareness of human trafficking as a significant societal and public health crisis.
• New Jersey designates Jan. 11 as "Human Trafficking Awareness Day," with the purpose of raising awareness about the signs and consequences of human trafficking and to promote its opposition.

'Sweat-free' Procurement by State Agencies

California also requires its state agencies to have sweat-free procurement policies. Specifically, the law mandates all contractors who contract with state agencies for the procurement, or laundering, of apparel to certify that no work was provided using forced labor or exploitation. The law requires the Department of Industrial Relations to create a contractor responsibility program and code of conduct to be signed by all bidders on state contracts. The law does not apply to public works contracts.

Contractors are required to, among other standards:

• Comply with laws concerning wages, overtime, workplace safety, non-discrimination standards and rights to association and assembly.
• Have a policy of only firing employees for just cause and provide employees access to a mediation process to resolve certain workplace disputes.
• Never use forced labor, child labor, or allow any youth under the age of 15 to be employed in the manufacturing process.
• Lying about any of these elements is a misdemeanor.

Sanctions for violations by a contractor can include:

• The contract being voided at the discretion of the state agency involved.
• A fine of the greater of $1,000 or 20% of the value of the goods.
• A contractor being removed from the bidders list for up to 360 days.

Businesses Disclosures

In 2010, California lawmakers enacted the Transparency in Supply Chains Act to require retail and manufacturing businesses operating in California, who have over $100 million in annual worldwide gross receipts, to publicly disclose their efforts to eradicate human trafficking from their supply chains. The goal of the law, as stated in the legislation, is to educate consumers so they are not inadvertently supporting trafficking crimes, and can make market influencing purchase decisions with this information.

• The California Franchise Tax Board says nearly 3,200 businesses are subject to the law's requirement.
• In 2015, California's attorney general issued a resource guide to help companies by providing model disclosures and giving them guidance on enhancing their consumers' understanding of its anti-trafficking and anti-slavery efforts.
• The law does not force companies to expand or adopt new policies to eradicate trafficking in their supply chains, only to disclose their efforts.

Texas lawmakers, in 2015, enacted the Human Trafficking Prevention Business Partnership, to be operated by the secretary of state. Companies that voluntarily join the partnership must adopt a zero tolerance policy on trafficking, ensure their employees comply with that policy, participate in public awareness campaigns, and develop best practices for combatting trafficking. Participating entities will receive a certificate of recognition from the secretary of state.

Certain industries have higher a reported number of incidents of human trafficking abuses than others. To aid in anti-trafficking efforts for those businesses, some states have instituted requirements to license professionals and set standards for the advertisement of their services.

• Florida requires anyone employed by a massage establishment to immediately present, upon request of a law enforcement officer, a valid government ID.
• Indiana requires adult entertainment business to be licensed and performers to provide proof of their age and legal United States residency by a government issued ID.
• Arizona requires advertisements for massage therapy businesses and escort services to include the license number for the individual and/or the business. The fine for violating the law is $500 for a first violation.
• Alabama law states that no massage therapy establishment can operate if it is a sexually oriented business and all establishments must employ massage therapists.
• In New York, anyone applying for an escort certificate must be 21 years of age, have a valid driver's license, and pass a test administered by the commissioner.

Training Requirements

At least 43 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws to require certain public agencies and/or private businesses to train their staff to appropriately recognize, report or respond to human trafficking crimes and victims. Common professions required to receive human trafficking training include police and other first responders, judicial officials, school employees, medical professionals and social services workers. In addition, at least six states have expanded those training requirements to the private sector.

State Laws Requiring Human Trafficking Training

• For public employees: California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, Alabama, Wisconsin, Hawaii, District of Columbia
• For public and private employees: Iowa, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, New Jersey, Connecticut

Private Sector Training

• Connecticut requires the commissioner of children and families and the commissioner of emergency services and public protection, in consultation with lodging associations, to recommend training programs for the accurate and prompt reporting of suspected human trafficking. Prior to Oct. 1, 2017, the operator of each lodging service must certify that each employee has received training.
• Iowa's law requires the crime victim assistance division of the department of justice to develop and conduct training programs for the general public and persons conducting business in industries that have a high statistical incidence of debt bondage or forced labor. The programs shall train participants to recognize and report incidents of human trafficking and to suppress the demand that fosters exploitation of persons and leads to human trafficking.
• New Jersey requires the department of community affairs to implement a training course, and provide training materials, on handling and responding to suspected cases of human trafficking for owners and staff of hotels and motels. Training must be completed within six months of hotel/motel ownership or employment.
• As of 2025, North Carolina mandates human trafficking awareness training for hotel staff and vacation rental managers. The training requirements must be approved by the North Carolina Department of Labor, training must be available online, in person, or in classroom format and the training must be free of charge. The law requires that new employes must receive training within 60 days of the start of their service and, for individuals already employed, by June 30, 2027.

Public Sector Training

• Nebraska's Human Trafficking Task Force is required to develop training concerning human trafficking for prosecutors, public defenders, judges, juvenile detention center staff and others involved in the juvenile justice and criminal justice system.
• In Tennessee, the Bureau of Investigation is charged with training law enforcement and other government officials who are directly involved with the investigation and intake of human trafficking complaints. Training, where appropriate, must include presentations by human trafficking experts with experience in the delivery of direct services to victims of human trafficking.
• Florida requires training on identifying human trafficking for child welfare agencies, juvenile justice agencies, law enforcement and prosecutors.