How Human Trafficking Enters Jails

First, we need to understand how human trafficking comes into our jails and who is most likely to be affected. The threat manifests from both inside and outside the facility. On the inside there may be individuals who are recruiting for traffickers, as well as traffickers incarcerated for other offenses who are managing to continue their trafficking efforts while inside. On the outside traffickers communicate with incarcerated associates to help recruit more victims. An individual’s propensity for being trafficked is directly related to her or his level of personal vulnerability.

The first inside scenario involves a vulnerable inmate who may be close to release. Her/his vulnerabilities may include being poor, previously abused, homeless, cognitively challenged, mentally ill, or suffering from addiction. She/he may be isolated from family or have no solid community ties. An incarcerated associate of a trafficker may approach the potential victim, explain that there is someone on the outside who can help them upon release. Prior to release, phone contact with the trafficker is initiated and the plan to meet the potential victim will be arranged. The inmates who assist the trafficker are either other criminal friends or individuals already working for the trafficker. Known as “facilitators‚ they are also culpable of the crime under trafficking laws. The trafficker may begin writing to the potential victim, establishing a relationship. Upon release, the trafficker or an associate is there to meet the unwitting victim, promising housing, a job, clothing or whatever else the victim may need. The other inside scenario involves the incarcerated trafficker. She or he may be in for drug offenses, weapons charges, or assault. If their primary criminal enterprise is trafficking, they frequently will continue their lucrative HT operations during their confinement. This involves an associate on the outside who continues recruiting and running the operation for the trafficker. One example is a potential vulnerable victim meets the outside facilitator, is told that somehow the jailed trafficker knows of the victim and wants to establish communication. The facilitator arranges phone conversations and jail visits to the victim with the trafficker. The victim is convinced the perpetrator is enamored, wants to provide for the victim. The possible victim is convinced that the way to help the trafficker is to “work‚ for the trafficking network. The facilitator then draws the victim into the trafficking operation and the exploitation begins. What makes this a trafficking event is if the victim does not want to participate and then is forced to play along. It is important to note that initial consent by the victim does not make the victim culpable in the crime. At first, victims often do not have a clear understanding of what is happening, and out of fear or shame, do not self-identify or report their trafficking.