what is a trafficking attorney

A Human trafficking lawyer can help if you or your loved ones have been tricked or forced into involuntary, underage prostitution and a hotel, business, or other entity turned a blind eye to reap profits from your pain. Houston is, unfortunately, a human trafficking hub for the rest of the United States.

Full Answer

What is human trafficking?

What is human trafficking? Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons or modern-day slavery, is a crime that involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts.

What is the Attorney General’s office doing to prevent human trafficking?

As designated by the Texas Legislature in Senate Bill 72, the Office of the Attorney General also leads the Human Trafficking Prevention Coordinating Council, which is tasked with creating a strategic plan to halt and prevent human trafficking in Texas. Read Phase I of this plan here.

What is our SNAP trafficking firm?

Our firm is the oldest and most knowledgeable SNAP Trafficking firm in the nation. We have the largest repository of knowledge on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program of any firm, and the Department knows us on a first name basis.

What is Texas doing to combat human trafficking?

Texas is on the forefront of combating this hideous crime. In 2016 — in one of his first major initiatives — Attorney General Paxton formed the Human Trafficking and Transnational/Organized Crime Section (HTTOC), tasked with combating human trafficking across our state.

What are the three types of trafficking?

The 3 most common types of human trafficking are sex trafficking, forced labor, and debt bondage. Forced labor, also known as involuntary servitude, is the biggest sector of trafficking in the world, according to the U.S. Department of State.

What do human trafficking advocates do?

A human trafficking advocate reviews a human rights violation or the case of an exploitation victim. As a human trafficking advocate, you assist victims through work with non-profit groups and legal agencies or in partnership with government outreach work.

What qualifies as human trafficking?

Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.

What is an example of trafficking?

Examples of human trafficking and slavery Adults and children can be trafficked or enslaved and forced to sell their bodies for sex. People are also trafficked or enslaved for labour exploitation, for example: to work on a farm or factory. to work in a house as a servant, maid or nanny.

How do traffickers get their victims?

Many sex traffickers lure victims by providing basic survival needs. They systematically provide distorted versions of higher needs to manipulate victims. Using threats, force and coercion, traffickers exploit the fact that, for many victims, “the life” may be their first experience of 'family' and belonging.

Who are victims of trafficking?

Victims of human trafficking can be young children, teenagers, men and women. They can be U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) or foreign nationals, and they can be found in urban, suburban, and rural areas.

What are the 4 types of human trafficking?

Trafficking for forced labour. Victims of this widespread form of trafficking come primarily from developing countries. ... Trafficking for forced criminal activities. ... Trafficking in women for sexual exploitation. ... Trafficking for the removal of organs. ... People smuggling.

What is the #1 state for human trafficking?

CaliforniaStates with the Highest Human Trafficking Numbers California consistently has the highest human trafficking rates in the United States, with 1,507 cases reported in 2019. 1,118 of these cases were sex trafficking cases, 158 were labor trafficking, and 69 were both sex and labor. The remaining cases were not specified.

Where is human trafficking most common?

Every continent in the world has been involved in human trafficking. In the United States, it is most prevalent in Texas, Florida, New York and California. Human trafficking is both a domestic and global crime, with victims trafficked within their own country, to neighboring countries and between continents.

What are the 3 types of red flags and indicators of human trafficking?

While not an exhaustive list, these are some key red flags that could alert you to a potential trafficking situation that should be reported:Living with employer.Poor living conditions.Multiple people in cramped space.Inability to speak to individual alone.Answers appear to be scripted and rehearsed.More items...

What are the 2 types of human trafficking?

The United States recognizes two primary forms of trafficking in persons: forced labor and sex trafficking.

What happens when someone is trafficked?

They are forced into prostitution, involuntary labor and other forms of servitude to repay debts – often incurred during entry into the United States. ICE recognizes that severe consequences of human trafficking continue even after the perpetrators have been arrested and held accountable.

What is the purpose of human rights advocacy?

Human Rights Research, Education, Advocacy The Advocates for Human Rights works to create public policy that respects, protects, and fulfills human rights obligations in our home community and around the world.

How do I advocate for child trafficking?

Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888: Anti-Trafficking Hotline Advocates are available 24/7 to take reports of potential human trafficking. Text the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 233733.

What is trafficking victim?

Trafficking victims are deceived by false promises of love, a good job, or a stable life and are lured or forced into situations where they are made to work under deplorable conditions with little or no pay. In the United States, trafficking victims can be American or foreign citizens.

What is human trafficking?

Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons or modern-day slavery, is a crime that involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts. The coercion can be subtle or overt, physical or psychological.

What are the most vulnerable populations to trafficking?

Some of the most vulnerable populations for trafficking in the United States include American Indian/Alaska Native communities, lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-questioning individuals, individuals with disabilities, undocumented migrants, runaway and homeless youth, temporary guest-workers and low-income individuals.

Is exploiting a minor for sex human trafficking?

Exploitation of a minor for commercial sex is human trafficking, regardless of whether any form of force, fraud, or coercion was used. There is no single profile of a trafficking victim.

Is there one type of trafficking victim?

Just as there is no one type of trafficking victim, perpetrators of this crime also var y. Traffickers can be foreign nationals or U.S. citizens, family members, partners, acquaintances, and strangers. They can act alone or as part of an organized criminal enterprise.

What is a federal law on trafficking?

Federal law defines trafficking in persons as "sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age"; or "the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services through ...

What is human trafficking?

Human Trafficking is a crime that involves exploiting a person for labor, services, or commercial sex. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and its subsequent reauthorizations define human trafficking as: Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced ...

What is the difference between human trafficking and smuggling?

According to the United Nations, trafficking in persons and human smuggling are some of the fastest growing areas of international criminal activity. Though they are often confused, human trafficking and smuggling are separate and fundamentally different crimes.

How many cases of human trafficking were reported in 2018?

This does not include the number of victims who are trafficked within the United States each year. In 2018, 10,949 cases of human trafficking were reported in the United States. Source: National Human Trafficking Hotline, https://humantraffickinghotline.org/states.

What are the victims of sex trafficking?

Many domestic victims of sex trafficking are runaway or homeless youth and/or come from backgrounds of sexual and physical abuse, ince st, poverty, or addiction. Traffickers exploit these vulnerabilities, promising the victims love, a good job, or a more stable life.

What is forced labor?

According to the International Labor Organization, forced labor is all work or service which is exacted from any person under the threat of a penalty and for which the person has not offered himself or herself voluntarily.

What is human smuggling?

Human smuggling is the facilitation, transportation, attempted transportation, or illegal entry of a person (s) across an international border, in violation of one or more countries laws , either clandestinely or through deception, such as the use of fraudulent documents.

What is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking is in essence, modern slavery. It boils down to the exploitation of human beings via coercion undertaken through subtle and overt means to get them to perform some form of labor against their will. A more formal definition of human trafficking would be:

Who Gets Human Trafficked?

A very common misconception surrounding human trafficking is that it involves destitute foreign people from third world countries smuggled into the United States for nefarious reasons usually prostitution or drugs. The reality is that human trafficking is a crime that affects everyone. Human trafficking can involve American citizens from affluent backgrounds forced into labor in places ranging from suburban neighborhoods to truck stops.

What Industries are People Trafficked For?

Human trafficking takes place in nearly every industry, but some industries are much more common. Those industries most commonly known for human trafficking nationwide are:

What happens when you are trafficked?

When someone is trafficked they are exposed to some of the worst things that humanity has to offer. They are dehumanized and abused. The pain and suffering that comes with this is some of the most intense that a person can suffer. This pain can be mental and physical in nature, and reach the point that it can have tangible effects on a person’s health and ability to live their life. Despite the fact that pain and suffering does not come with a dollar amount like a hospital bill, that makes it no less important in a lawsuit.

How does human trafficking affect people?

Human trafficking often dehumanizes victims both as a strategy to coerce and also as a consequence of captivity. This can have severe psychological consequences and lead to the development of a number of debilitating mental disorders. The acts and labor that a person may be forced to perform in addition to the horrors a person may witness while being trafficked can also contribute to the psychological trauma that leads to these mental disorders. Some women even suffer the loss of children, both through miscarriage and from having their babies taken away, which no doubt creates a lifetime of mental anguish.

What is the misconception about human trafficking?

A common misconception about this part of human trafficking is that it always consists of travel across a significant distance; usually across borders. While transfer and transportation of human trafficking victims can often involve this. Many can end up being trafficked within their own home.

What are the most common injuries that human traffickers suffer?

Human trafficking survivors can suffer a wide array of injuries depending on the details of their trafficking such as what they were forced to do, their traffickers, etc. Physical and sexual abuse are the most common sources of injury among human trafficking survivors. However, survivors of human trafficking often do not seek traditional medical treatment and therefore cannot prove these expenses with medical bills. After all, they are often prisoners, have no health insurance, have no money, or all three. But we all know they still occur. Physical injuries that were sustained while a person was being trafficked very much deserve compensation but they cannot always be proved.

What is human trafficking in Texas?

What is Human Trafficking? Texas Penal Code § 20A identifies four major types of trafficking: ADULT SEX TRAFFICKING: Trafficking of adults for commercial sex by force, fraud, or coercion. ADULT LABOR TRAFFICKING: Trafficking of adults for labor by force, fraud, or coercion.

Can you prosecute someone for forced labor?

All fall under one statute, which can be used to prosecute anyone who recruits, harbors, transports, entices, or provides another person for forced labor or sexual exploitation, as well as anyone who benefits from that labor or exploitation. Although a common misconception is that transportation or movement of the victim is required, it is not.

What to do with a trafficking violation?

At the top of what you should do with a trafficking violation is to call my office and get a free consultation 1-833-SNAP-LAW, or fill out an online request for an appointment . However, the next section will give you a better guide as to how we respond to Charge Letters.

What is the most common form of trafficking?

The most common of those is where a store owner asks a SNAP participant to purchase inventory with their EBT card and then re-sell it to the store, or to an employee at the store.

What is Trafficking in SNAP Benefits?

Specifically, the USDA is charging your firm with exchanging cash for SNAP benefits . That can be done by purchasing EBT cards for cash, or giving cash back on non-EBT Cash transactions (whether or not the store profits from it). These activities are illegal, and (should the Department prove their existence), result in a permanent disqualification and possibly criminal prosecution.

How long do you have to respond to a trafficking complaint?

The letter says that you have 10 days (from date of receipt) to respond to the trafficking charges against you. That’s 10 calendar days – not working days. You must retain our firm or respond yourself to meet that deadline. If you don’t, they will disqualify you and shut off your machine about 5 days later.

What is the phone number for Snap Law?

As with everything, if you have a question about anything on this page, call us at 1-833 -SNAP-LAW and I will be happy to answer whatever questions you may have.

Is Snap violation consultation free?

We offer free SNAP violation consultations . We don’t do pressure sales, and we know more about this industry than anyone else in the country. If you have a problem, we’ve seen it before and we have handled it before. Even if you choose not to retain us, you can use the consult to gather information and learn more about this process. Plus, it’s free.

What is a trafficker?

Traffickers are people who are willing to treat other people like objects or commodities that they can buy, sell, or exploit for their own benefit. They can be:

How to contact police about human trafficking?

Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline. After contacting law enforcement, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-3737-888. You can also text "Help" or "Info" to 233733. Additionally, you can reach the hotline by email: [email protected].

What are the types of human trafficking?

Human trafficking affects both adults and children, men and women, and people from all parts of Texas, the United States, and around the world.

How to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline?

Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-3737-888 or text “Help” or “Info” to 233733. The hotline is staffed 24/7 with people trained in recognizing and identifying trafficking. They can help you make sense of the information that you have and recommend next steps.

What to do if you think someone is in danger?

If the situation is an emergency or you believe someone is in immediate danger, call 911 and alert the authorities. Tell them you think it may be human trafficking, so that it can be routed to the proper investigators. Be sure to share all actionable information you have — including descriptions of cars and people, when and where you saw the conduct, and take a picture if you can safely do so.

What are the red flags of sex trafficking?

Important red flags to look for include: Changes in school attendance, habits, friend groups, vocabulary, demeanor, and attitude. Sudden appearance of luxury items — e.g., manicures, designer clothes, purses. Truancy (absence) from school.

What age is a child a victim of sex trafficking?

A child, under the age of 18 , is a victim of sex trafficking, if they are being prostituted by someone other than themselves, regardless of whether the child complied with the trafficker’s demands or actively resisted.

What is trafficking in EBT?

Exchange guns, ammunition, explosives or drugs for SNAP benefits or an EBT card is trafficking; Purchasing items that have a bottle refund, discarding the contents and exchanging the bottle for the refund is trafficking; Purchasing eligible food (or things like Red Bull) with an EBT card for purposes of selling the food to someone else is ...

What happened to Snap trafficking?

The investigator claims that SNAP trafficking happened when a retailer (or clerk) instructed an investigator to go and buy Red Bull with their EBT benefits. The Red Bull would then be resold to the retailer, who would pay cash for the drinks.

What is the worst offense an EBT retailer can be accused of?

SNAP Trafficking. Trafficking in SNAP Benefits is the worse offense an EBT retailer can be accused of. It’s also the most common SNAP violation that the USDA charges. If your store has been accused of trafficking, the penalties are harsh (permanent disqualification at least) and swift. It is also possible that criminal charges could be involved.

What is an OIG letter that claims SNAP trafficking?

An OIG letter that claims SNAP trafficking occurred looks like this: These letters involve criminal investigations, though they do not always lead to criminal charges to the store or the store’s owner.

What to do if you are charged with SNAP?

Trafficking cases are serious. Because of their life long effects, you need to fight the charges brought by the USDA. If you don’t respond to the Charge Letter, or do so incorrectly, you will be permanently disqualified.

What is the phone number for Snap Law?

Call us today for your free consultation, 1-833-SNAP-Law.

Have I Been Charged with Trafficking?

As a retailer, there are three ways to get charged with food stamp trafficking, all of which start with a letter. The “Charge Letter” is delivered by UPS in the overnight mail, and it outlines specific allegations against your store. The most common of the trafficking charges is what is called an “EBT” case. This stands for Electronic Benefit Transfer – but it is a data analysis case. The Charge Letter looks like this:

What is Drug Trafficking?

Drug trafficking is the process by which individuals manufacture and distribute illegal drugs throughout the country. An example of drug trafficking is someone making methamphetamines in his basement. Another example of drug trafficking is that person then going out and selling his homemade meth to the public. Every part of the process involved in making and distributing illicit drugs falls under the banner that is drug trafficking.

How much punishment does a drug trafficker get?

For instance, the penalties for drug trafficking are more severe if the person has, say, 200 grams of cocaine on him versus less than a gram. While both crimes are felonies, he faces significantly more prison time and higher fines the more cocaine he possesses.

What countries are involved in the drug trade?

Countries included in the global drug trade include Africa, South America, and Asia , and individuals largely trade drugs like fentanyl over the “dark web,” a version of the internet that requires specific software in order to access.

What are the legal issues?

Related Legal Terms and Issues 1 Appellate Court – A court having jurisdiction to review decisions of a trial-level or other lower court. 2 Felony – A crime, often involving violence, regarded as more serious than a misdemeanor. Felony crimes are usually punishable by imprisonment more than one year. 3 Misdemeanor – A criminal offense less serious than a felony. 4 Prison – A building in which people live as a punishment for a crime or while awaiting their trial.

How old were the most drug traffickers in 2016?

In 2016, most of drug traffickers (about 85 percent) were men around the age of 36 years old.

Is it illegal to sell prescription drugs?

While legal for use by the person with a prescription, selling those pills to others is quite illegal.

Is drug trafficking a federal crime?

To better illustrate the difference between state and federal drug charges, consider the following: drug trafficking is a federal crime, whereas simply possessing the drug is a state crime. Some drug crimes may be state or a federal crimes, depending on the severity of the offense. For instance, the location in which a person possesses ...

Human Trafficking in The United States

Human Trafficking in California

Types of Human Trafficking

• Sex Trafficking
  Human Trafficking is a crime that involves exploiting a person for labor, services, or commercial sex. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000and its subsequent reauthorizations define human trafficking as: 1. Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, …
• Labor Trafficking
  Labor trafficking involves the recruitment, harboring, or transportation of a person for labor services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. It is modern day slavery. Labor trafficking arises in many situations, including domestic servitude, restaurant work, janitorial work, factory …

See more on oag.ca.gov

Difference Between Human Trafficking and Smuggling