Human Trafficking
Sex Trafficking
The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act, in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age.
Labor Trafficking
The recruitment, harboring, transporting, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.
Techniques Used to Control Victims and Keep Them Enslaved
- Debt bondage-holding the victim financially obligated with undefined and/or increasing debt
- Isolation from the public, family and friends
- Confiscation of passports, visas, or other identification documents
- Use of threat of violence towards victims and/or family and friends
- Threats of victim harming via the Internet and/or exposing them to family and friends
- Threatening deportation or imprisonment
- Controlling the victim's money and persona affects
- Whether the individual(s) can leave or come and go as they please
- Whether the individual works excessively long and/or unusual hours
- Whether there are unusual physical security measures present, such as bars on windows, barbed wire, security cameras, constant surveillance, etc.
- Whether the individual avoids eye contact or does not seem to be allowed to speak for themselves
- Whether the individual is in control of his/her own identification documents
- Whether the individual seems to have local knowledge and be aware of his/her location
What Should I Do if I Suspect a Potential Human Trafficking Situation?
If there appears to be imminent or immediate danger, call 911.
The McLeod County Sheriff's Office has a tip line to report any human/sex trafficking information. You may remain anonymous.
Confidential Telephone Line 320-864-4524
If it is not an emergency situation, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. This is the national, toll-free multi-lingual hotline. This hotline answers calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Call-takers are trained to assess and properly refer case reports.
Resources for Human Trafficking Victims
Women's Advocates, Inc
Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center
The Link
Women's Foundation of MN- Girls Are Not for Sale
MN Department of Health -Sexual Violence Prevention Program