Florida is estimated to have the third highest amount of human trafficking in the United States. Victim identification and a misunderstanding of the crime impede the arrest process, while downstream orientation and prosecutorial discretion affect the judicial process. Through a conceptual framework of cultural blinders, prosecutorial decision-making, and victim-centered investigations, this study analyzed the prioritization of Florida's human trafficking investigations, whether trafficking convictions reflect original arrest charges, and the current issues with Florida's current legal definition of human trafficking. A mixed-methods approach using state and federal convictions and the National Human Trafficking Hotline accompanied by semi-structured interviews with law enforcement, prosecutors, civil and non-profit attorneys, and victim advocates are used to test the hypotheses of this project. The research finds that sex trafficking is the main focus of human trafficking investigations; prosecutors rely on victims' testimonies, which influence plea deals, and the current stipulation of trafficking laws places high burdens on the victims' testimonies, influencing revictimization. It is recommended that further research be conducted on states that provide victim protection during the deposition and testimony stages of the trial to determine if the prosecution has different outcomes. Furthermore, more law enforcement officers should be interviewed to determine why labor trafficking is not investigated in Florida.
Amanda Knapp is a PhD candidate in Public Affairs, focusing her research on Human Trafficking Policy. Her research includes investigating law enforcement cultural barriers influencing low victim identification rates, runaway homeless youth trafficking, labor trafficking, public perception of the human trafficking crisis, and the judicial system.