U.S. response to human trafficking: Is it enough?

Abstract

An estimated 17,000 people are trafficked into the U.S. each year. Nearly a decade after passing the Trafficking Victims and Protection Act (TVPA) to address human trafficking, the U.S. is still grappling to balance punishing traffickers and protecting victims. This paper examines the victim benefits and the trend in criminal prosecution of the perpetrators under the new national policy. Although the policy is an improvement over past policies, only a fraction of the estimated victims are being reached and assisted. The authors explore possible explanations for victim under-identification and assert that victims should be assisted for the harm they have suffered, rather than primarily as law enforcement and prosecution tools. © 2008 by The Haworth Press. All rights reserved.