Human Trafficking

 National Human Trafficking Hotline

Call: 888-373-7888

Text:  HELP to 233733 (BeFree)

What is Human Trafficking?

Human Trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transporting, providing or obtaining, by any means, a person for labor or services involving forced labor, slavery or servitude in any industry, such as forced or coerced participation in agriculture, prostitution, manufacturing, or other industries or in domestic service or marriage (Freedom Network, based on the federal criminal law definitions of trafficking).

Look Beneath the Surface

Learn more about human trafficking and raise community awareness through the Look Beneath the Surface campaign by the Office on Trafficking in Persons an Office of the Administration for Children & Families, U.S. Department of Human Services.

Download the Infographic: 

Out Of The Shadows

Exposing The Myths Of Human Trafficking
Human Trafficking: Look Beneath the Surface
(PDF, 1.26MB)
Accessible Text Below:

MYTH

Human Trafficking IS ONLY SEX TRAFFICKING

TRUTH

OF THE 20.9 MILLION VICTIMS of human trafficking globally

• 68% Forced Labor
• 22% Sexually Exploited
• 10% State-Imposed Forced Labor

MYTH

Human Trafficking VICTIMS WILL SELF IDENTIFY

TRUTH

• 50% of VICTIMS had contact with a health care professional
• NONE were identified as a victim

MYTH

Human Trafficking IS NOT IN MY COMMUNITY

TRUTH

• 30,000+ CASES of potential human trafficking REPORTED
• IN ALL 50 states, DC & US territories

MYTH

Human Trafficking ONLY AFFECTS THE VICTIM

TRUTH

The Crime of Human Trafficking is a Symptom of a Societal Problem

HOW TO HELP

• Know where your goods & services come from
• Offer opportunities for at-risk individuals
• REPORT IT:

You can report any information about human trafficking, child trafficking, or child sexual abuse material offenses immediately to St. Johns County Sheriff's Office (SJSO) or Federal law enforcement at 1-866-347-2423 or CALL the National Human Trafficking Hotline 888-373-7888. You can also remain anonymous by reporting the information to Northeast Crime Stoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS (8477), or report it to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children through their tip line at 1-800-843-5678 or report it to them online at tips.SJSO.org

MYTH

 Human Trafficking ONLY HAPPENS TO CHILDREN

TRUTH

Since 2012, National Hotline Cases Reported: 62%ADULTS

MYTH

Human Trafficking ONLY HAPPENS TO WOMEN

TRUTH

Since 2012, National Hotline Cases Reported: 18%MEN

Human Trafficking is a crime and
you can make a difference.

Since 2007, the National Human Trafficking Hotline has received over 168,554 calls and identified over 26,243 potential cases of human trafficking. You can receive help, report a tip, or request information or training by calling:

National Human Trafficking Hotline
888-373-7888
acf.hhs.gov/endtrafficking

How to Help

Children and adults can be victims of human trafficking.

"If you see something, say something."

• You can report any information about human trafficking, child trafficking, or child sexual abuse material offenses immediately to St. Johns County Sheriff's Office (SJSO).
  • You can also remain anonymous by reporting the information to Northeast Crime Stoppers at: 1-888-277-TIPS (8477)
  • or report it to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children through their tip line at: 1-800-843-5678 or report it to them online at tips.SJSO.org
• If you have information regarding suspected Human Trafficking of a child in Florida contact:
  Florida Abuse Hotline 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873).
• If you have information regarding suspected Human Trafficking of an adult anywhere in the United States or of a child outside of Florida please contact: 
  National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888.
• Text HELP to 233733 (BEFREE):  To get help for victims and survivors of human trafficking or to connect with local services.
• Visit the National Human Trafficking Hotline online at:  HumanTraffickingHotline.org.
• Department of Homeland Security BLUE CAMPAIGN
  One Voice. One Mission. End Human Trafficking.®
  To report suspected human trafficking to Federal law enforcement call: 1-866-347-2423
  Tips can be submitted Online  at:  ICE.gov/tipline

Human Trafficking Information Links

• Northeast Florida Inter-Agency Child Exploitation and Person Trafficking Task Force (NEFL INTERCEPT)
  

  "This task force is a unique public-private partnership where nonprofit organizations provide financial, technical, and other resources to law enforcement task forces dedicated to the fight against human trafficking and child exploitation. Operation Light Shine, as well as the Tim Tebow Foundation, allows law enforcement agencies to better serve the Northeast Florida communities and the many victims of human trafficking. Leaders believe the cooperative nature of the NEFL INTERCEPT task force can make a profound impact in rescuing victims of human trafficking. In addition to Murphy, Tebow and HSI special agents, the NEFL INTERCEPT task force consists of dedicated members from the sheriff’s offices with Clay County, Putnam County, St. Johns County, Nassau County, Duval County, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement." ICE.GOV
  

• DHS Blue Campaign
• FBI Victim Assistance
• FBI Human Trafficking Awareness
• National Human Trafficking Hotline
• Report Suspicious Activity: See something? Say something!
• U.S. Department of Justice: Project Safe Childhood
• U.S. Department of State -2023 TIP Report & Victims' Stories
• FL Department of Children and Families Human Trafficking Resources

SOURCES:

_{Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children & Families}

_{ILO 2012 Global estimate of forced labour Executive summary. Accessed March 4, 2015.
https://polarisproject.org/facts
CNN. “The CNN Freedom Project.” Accessed March 4, 2015.
National Human Trafficking Hotline Statistics 2012-2016, https://humantraffickinghotline.org/states
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/resource/publichealthlens}