Human Trafficking: Utah Resources

---

Published in March 2016, this report (PDF) includes general information about trafficking, human trafficking in Utah, Utah statistics, Utah in comparison to other states, national statistics, international statistics, summary and conclusions, bibliography and resources, and newspaper articles. 

Learn more about human trafficking in Utah by browsing the hotline statistics, resources, and local events listings published by the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Utah's report card from Shared Hope International includes sections on criminalization of domestic minor sex trafficking, criminal provisions for demand, criminal provisions for traffickers, criminal provisions for facilitators, protective provisions for the child victims, and criminal justice tools for investigation and prosecution. 

Legal analysis and recommendations: Reports identifying key issues for Utah and recommendations for addressing legislative gaps.

This state profile summarizes regionally specific data to help promote collaboration and inform and enhance the response to human trafficking in Utah. Information was reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline from December 2012 to December 2016.

Includes definitions and indicators of human trafficking and myths and misconceptions. 

See also: Press releases and other media related to human trafficking in Utah.

Published by End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI) in 2011, this technical assistance guide provides information about the prevalence of sexual violence throughout various forms of human trafficking. The content of this guide is intended to support community-based advocates working in their outreach and service provision to trafficking victims. This guide includes information from the research on trafficking, a discussion of the role of advocates, and possible advocacy and collaborative strategies.

The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) is a non-governmental organization that works to end human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of women and children worldwide. CATW is the world’s first organization to fight human trafficking internationally and is the world’s leading abolitionist organization. A unique strength of CATW is that we engage in advocacy, education, victim services and prevention programs for victims of trafficking and prostitution in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, and North America, including in the United States. The website includes a factbook on human trafficking, best practices (ending the demand, legislative advocacy, and supporting survivors), resources, how you can help, and media, including photos and videos. 

In the United States, the most common form of human trafficking involves the commercial sex industry and occurs in online escort services, residential brothels, brothels disguised as massage businesses or spas, and in street prostitution.

There are two primary factors driving the spread of human trafficking: high profits and low risk. Like drug and arms trafficking, human trafficking in the US is a market-driven criminal industry that is based on the principles of supply and demand. Every year, traffickers generate billions of dollars in profits by victimizing millions of people around the world, including here in the United States. Vulnerable and susceptible to manipulation, homeless youth have become the industry's prime targets.

This policy brief published by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) in 2015 outlines psychological trauma on youth beyond the impact of sexual assault alone, screenings for commercial sex exploitation, and tailored intervention protocols.

Created by the National Human Trafficking Hotline, this presentation will go over the federal definition of human trafficking and descriptions of sex and labor trafficking. The presentation will also teach participants how to identify and understand victims and about the anti-trafficking response network in the U.S.

This document, published in 2017 by the Child Welfare Information Gateway details how child welfare agencies can support children who are victims of human trafficking, as well as children who are at greater risk for future victimization. It provides background information about the issue, including its scope and relevant Federal legislation and initiatives, and strategies that agencies can implement to address the trafficking of children. State and local policy and program examples also are provided.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a national anti-trafficking hotline serving victims and survivors of human trafficking and the anti-trafficking community in the United States. The toll-free hotline is available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year in more than 200 languages.

Call 1-888-373-7888 ( TTY: 711)

Text 233733

Live Chat

Polaris is a leader in the global fight to eradicate modern slavery. Named after the North Star that guided slaves to freedom in the U.S., Polaris systemically disrupts the human trafficking networks that rob human beings of their lives and their freedom. Our comprehensive model puts victims at the center of what we do—helping survivors restore their freedom, preventing more victims, and leveraging data and technology to pursue traffickers wherever they operate. The Polaris website includes extensive information about human trafficking: the facts, data, and statistics from Polaris and external studies, information about sex trafficking and labor trafficking, recognizing the signs of human trafficking, survivor stories, policy & legislation, and resources. Additionally, there are sections on active policy initiatives involving human trafficking, getting involved, and getting assistance, a blog, and a section for news media, which includes press releases and statements on current issues relating to human trafficking.

Highlighted resources:

• 2014 State Ratings on Human Trafficking Laws: Polaris rated all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 10 categories of laws that are critical to a basic legal framework that combats human trafficking, punishes traffickers and supports survivors.
• 2016 Statistics from the National Human Trafficking Hotline and BeFree Textline:  The National Human Trafficking Hotline and Polaris’s BeFree Textline provide survivors of human trafficking with vital support and a variety of options to get help and stay safe. This information spotlights where and how traffickers operate so that we can put them out of business, keep them from harming more people, and help survivors find the services they need.

Shared Hope International is dedicated to bringing an end to sex trafficking through our three-pronged approach—prevent, restore, and bring justice.

This four-page policy brief published by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) outlines for professionals immediate and long-term consequences for survivors of child sex trafficking. It describes what child sex trafficking is, who is at risk of child sex trafficking, what the consequences of child sex trafficking are, what can be done to address child sex trafficking, resources, and references.

Created by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network's (NCTSN) Learning Center, this training on Understanding the Complex Needs of Commercially Sexually Exploited Children will tackle the specific strategies and challenges within each child serving system providing services to commercially sexually exploited children.