Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal industries with $150 billion in annual profits and an estimate of over 27.6 million victims exploited through commercial sex or forced labor activities. While transportation of a victim is not compulsory for a crime to be considered human trafficking, the transportation industry plays a crucial role in every stage of the trafficking process. This is especially true for labor trafficking victims, who generally have severely limited or no mobility during long periods of exploitation. As such, there is a great need for dedicated research focused exclusively on labor trafficking. Overwhelming evidence suggests that labor trafficking (without the presence of overlapping sex trafficking charges) is woefully under prosecuted in the U.S. This study seeks to close a gap in understanding the labor trafficking timeline by examining the role of transportation through a systematic review of labor trafficking cases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate successfully litigated cases with respect to the role of transportation. The insights from the 16 opinions selected, issued at various points in the litigation process, shed light on ways the transportation network can disrupt the trafficking process, serve as a resource point for victims attempting escape, and support prosecution of traffickers.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Dr. Kezban Yagci Sokat is an Assistant Professor of Business Analytics at San Jose State University with a passion for analytics for social good, especially in human trafficking. She serves on the U.S. Department of Transportation Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking Research and Data Subcommittee.
Trayce Hockstad is an attorney and law and policy analyst at the Transportation Policy Research Center at the Alabama Transportation Institute. She is a member of the Alabama and Virginia Bars and has clerked for several federal and state courts. Her areas of expertise include counter-trafficking, criminal procedure, and cybersecurity.